Topband: Skimmer calibration

[Jim Brown]

On Tue,8/19/2014 7:08 PM, Tom W8JI wrote:
> Radials under the vertical antenna have virtually no effect on wave 
> angle unless they are sparse and grossly unbalanced, allowing them to 
> radiate like a low horizontal antenna.
>
> Radials change the efficiency, not the pattern, unless the radials 
> radiate like a dipole. 

On Wed,8/20/2014 9:05 AM, Tom W8JI wrote:
> This is because the "often poorly understood" Fresnel zone extends far 
> beyond practical radial field area, and virtually all of the ground 
> wave attenuation from soil losses is miles from the antenna over the 
> entire long length of a path. It is not localized loss. 

I agree completely with both of Tom's posts.

73, Jim K9YC