Topband: BOG antenna

[Bruce]

It's refreshing to get input from many sources. I always believed that the 
static was not from a nearby tower as I have three close by.  The BOG 
antenna did not hear the noise, but other antennas did.

In broadcasting it is known  dry, high speed blowing snow can cause 
dangerous voltages on an antenna. The first key word is dry, second key work 
is speed.

Think Guy K2AV has it close but I can not help but think that rain drops, 
and snow flakes, due to their speed, carry the charge.   But as in the case 
of lightening the direction can be argued. Guess something on ground has a 
sharper point than a thunder cloud. Then there are cloud to cloud strikes. 
Hmmm. The sharpest cloud ?   whoa !

I have a phased three in line 80 meter vertical array. Often the rain static 
is in one switched antenna direction only.. All coaxes hook  to a, 
phase-current, network.

Thanks, everyone for your replys,

73
Bruce-K1FZ



> All of my bare wire Beverages experience rain or snow static. Those with 
> insulated wire -- whether BoG or above ground -- do not. Snowflakes and 
> raindrops take on a charge in the clouds and discharge on contact with a 
> conductor. Snow static seems to be consistently bad; rain varies.
>
> Gary
> K9AY
>

> Noticed many storms have caused rain static on every ham antenna except my 
> BOG.  Wonder how many others have observed the same?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> 73
> Bruce-K1FZ