Topband: Magic Antenna Land

[GEORGE WALLNER]

>Hardy, N7RT wrote:
>seawater is lousy for conduction currents 
>but great for 
> electromagnetic wave propagation. In other words, let 
>the antennas and 
>radials do the radiation and let the saltwater do the 
>propagation. 

Hardy,

During TX3A we used a vertical T and DID NOT HAVE ANY 
RADIALS. The antenna was standing in salt-water on a large 
aluminum stand to which we connected the "ground wire". It 
seem to have worked.

I have measured the DC resistance between two aluminum 
metal stands standing in salt-water about 45 feet apart. 
The resistance measured was 7 ohms. You are right, this is 
not a great "conductor", but when considering that it is 
in a 360 degree arc, and goes out a long way, it makes for 
a great ground systems. I must point out that the aluminum 
stands have had large surfaces in the water (they each had 
four 9' legs). Although DC and RF behaviour in a conductor 
is different, the salt-water seems to make for a pretty 
decent "radial field". The trick is ahcieving a low 
impedance connection to it.


73,

George, AA7JV