Topband: Antennas in trees

[Bob Eldridge]

Hi Eddie:
If you excite a lossy tree the RF is dissipated. If you excite an
adjacent mast the RF flows and the mast radiates - it will destroy or
enhance the pattern but it will radiate. The RF in a monopole antenna is
"diverted to ground", but it does its job on the way. But if the
monopole is too resistive, the RF doesn't even get to the ground. It has
created heat.

If you put the portable set-up in the building in such a way that it
does not excite the building, not much RF gets out. But if you use it to
excite the shell of the building, the building radiates.
Same applies to a battleship or an aeroplane.

Bob VE7BS