Topband: Small lot antenna idea

[Tom Rauch]

>  The question now becomes how to I ground it? I could tap 
> into the plumbing in the house, but then the wire would be 
> laying right on top of the counterpoise. I dont know how 
> that would affect the signal.

The RF would see the house wiring as a "ground" if you 
connect to it or not. Unless you chop the wires up in the 
house with cutters they will always have considerable effect 
on any wire near them.

For this reason you are better off to use an antenna that is 
not wrapped around the house, even if it has less wire 
length. A counterpoise or good ground is important in any 
Marconi antenna, since the other terminal is ground. Even a 
small antenna will radiate well if it is properly loaded, is 
in the clear as much as possible, and uses a good ground.

73 Tom