Topband: BOGs, Snakes and snowpack

[K1FZ-Bruce]

True the lower velocity factor does bring the frequency down lower with 
snow & leaves. In my case found that 215 feet may be best in the dry
month in summer, 200 feet is best on 160 meters year around.  I can 
get 3 S points front to back on my two wire reversible BOG under deep 
snow, but it is considerably more F/B spring and fall. 

In the summer it is usually my quietest antenna for working Europe at 
their sunrise. There is 160 meter DX all seasons if anyone wants to go 
after it. 
Remember when you work Africa, Australia, New Zealand, &   South 
America in winter, it is their Summer. 

Many have a tendency to go too long on the BOG antenna  wire
 
73
Bruce-K1FZ
www.qsl.net/k1fz/beverage_antenna.html

On Thu, 26 Feb 2015 19:58:45 -0500, Guy Olinger K2AV 
<k2av.guy at gmail.com> wrote:
Not based on my experience with BOGs and LOGs under significant snow, or
> too many seasons of falling leaves, or both. One thing that happens is
> whatever original BOG tuning, setting up good f/b, done with nothing on top
> of it, gets really skewed as the velocity factor goes lower and lower,
> under more frozen water, leaves, whatever. 
>
> BOGs deliver a lot less signal than regular beverages, and most often need
> an amplifier or a good preamp in the rig to bring the signal up to useful
> levels. 
>
> 73, Guy. 
>
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 7:34 PM, Mike Waters <mikewate at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hello Guy,
> >
> > I understand that the dielectric constant of snow is far higher than air. 
> > But wouldn't some length of a BOG covered with snow at least hear better
> > than the mag and wire loop that he currently has?
> >
> > 73, Mike
> > www.w0btu.com
> >
> > On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 5:50 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV <k2av.guy at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> The short answer is that a foot of snow on top of it will affect it
> >> terribly. The long answer is gawd-awful. Don't ask any more if you don't
> >> want to know. 
> >>
> >> 73, Guy
> >>
> >> On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 6:02 PM, K2RS <K2RSonline at comcast.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> > When spring finally arrives, I'd like to try a BOG and/or a Snake
> >> receive
> >> > antenna. I live on a half-acre suburban lot and these antennas are
> >> doable. 
> >> >
> >> > But I have a question about them. Does a substantial snowpack -- let's
> >> say
> >> > a foot or more -- have an effect on the performace of on-the-ground
> >> receive
> >> > antennas like BOGs and Snakes? For the past four winters, we have had at
> >> > least 12" of snow on the ground from December until March. A couple of
> >> > years we've had between three and four feet of snowpack throughout the
> >> > winter. 
> >> >
> >> > The BOG and Snake would be in addition to off-the-ground antennas, such
> >> as
> >> > wire loops and magnetic loops, so I would not be relying on them as my
> >> only
> >> > receive antenna. 
> >>
> >
> >
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