Topband: Balloon-supported verticals

[Herb Schoenbohm]

Earl, I doubt very much that a 6 foot balloon can lift 7 pounds of dead
weight. If you can get hydrogen it is much cheaper with nearly twice as much
lifting power for half the price.  Here in the Virgin Islands a 100 pound
cylinder cost $108.95 for about 270 cubic feet.  Hydrogen is only $40.45 for
the same amount.

(Ever since the Graff Zeppelin exploded at Lakehurst, N.J hydrogen has gotten
a bad rap.  It is volatile but not as dangerous as the gas you put in your
gar or a can of WD-40.  The Germans, in fact have designed a car that runs on
hydrogen generated from water in the trunk.  It is said to be non-polluting
and claims 150 miles to the gallon!)

Good luck with your project.  You may consider bring a couple of fishing
reels with 30 lb test line to run a guy or two if there is wind.  This will
allow you to maintain the supported wire in a more vertical plane. I
understand that 320 feet is ideal as a 5/8 wave vertical for low angle take
off.  However, there is a military version of a balloon supported "half
rhombic" which looks like a giant inverted "V" that requires 600 feet of
support elevation and is terminated to ground at the far end.  This would
seem ideal for the salt flat with significant gain, directivity, and a quiet
antenna to boot.  If a balloon could support two such "V's" by shifting the
feeds and termination's both Europe, the Pacific, JA's and South America
could be covered as needed.


73

Herb KV4FZ
P.O. Box 4419
Kingshill, VI 00851
http://www.islands.vi/~herbs



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