Topband: nonlinear attenuation along signal path

[Michael Tope]

Merv Schweigert wrote:

>>In the case of the recent FW operation, I believe that the 
>>antenna would have worked  better if it was standing in 
>>the water -- perhaps as much as 3 dB better. That could 
>>have made the difference for you!
>>  
>>    
>>
>This is proven every day here in KH6,  there are a couple of stations that
>are "mobile" and set up antennas at the beach,  one for instance uses a
>half wave end fed.  His signal and reports are always much better than
>mine where I am about a KM from water.   I also have up a half wave
>on HF bands and it works well, but nothing like if its at the
>waters edge.  I think ON4UN or one of the antenna books has a plot
>of the antenna over regular ground,  excellent ground  and salt water,
>there is at least 3DB over excellent ground and up to 6db over regular
>ground.  
>If your on an expedition get to the waters edge,  you wont need a
>beam and save the packing and shipping.  Vertical in water will
>do as well.   Merv KH7C
>
>  
>
Whenever an expeditions is loud and easy to work I figure they have an 
antenna seetup close to the saltwater. The ones that are hard to hear  
(given the same path direction and distance) I always figure are running 
a low dipole or a vertical inland from the water.

Mike W4EF...................