Topband: Several BOG questions

[Mikek]

  I have installed a 253ft Bog,
  I used WD-1A a pair and just twisted the two wires together.

Any reason I should separate the pair and just use a single wire?

Can the WD-1A be used for a Bi-directional BOG, or is the spacing too close?

I have installed a variable termination on the North end of the BOG and 
a matching transformer
on the South end, for receiving from the north. I'm in the Florida 
panhandle about 1 mile from the gulf.

  I'm a little disappointed that the Variable termination does not have 
much effect between 200 ohms and 1300 ohms.
  I use AM Band stations as a guide to the directionality of the BOG and 
it does seem to have good directionality,
just no noticeable difference while adjusting the termination. It is 
also quiet when compared to a 150ft long wire.

In an effort to make the antenna seem 'apparently' longer I have loaded 
the BOG with 9 ferrite binocular cores.
Using info from W8JI's page,
> https://www.w8ji.com/slinky_and_loaded_beverages.htm
I originally measured my Velocity Factor as .78 and by installing the 
cores I was shooting for a VF of .55

  I made a single pass through a single hole in the binocular core.
A single pass through a single hole in the binocular core is about 
8.9uh. My calculation said I needed
11.8uh, but I installed all the cores I had and ended up with a VF of 
.67, lower but... when I get more cores
I'll install them and test VF again.

  Your thoughts?


I have measured my ground rod resistance using the method on page 24 of 
the this pdf.

> www.weschler.com/_upload/sitepdfs/techref/gettingdowntoearth.pdf

  I got 117 ohms on both ends, I bought some calcium chloride and put 
2.5 lbs into and
around my 3 copper pipe rods. I pre-drilled the rods every 3" to allow 
the solution to
distribute more evenly around the pipes. (5ft rods/pipes) I did this at 
one end.
A day later I retested the ground rod resistance, and it was 73 ohms, 
some improvement,
and another couple days I remeasured and it was down to 60 ohms.
  A week later I added more Calcium chloride and I'm at 34 ohms now.
  I just finished retesting ground resistance, North end 34 ohms, South 
end 23 ohms.

Is the method in the pdf article a reasonable way to measure ground 
resistance?
  I used 60 hz, because it's available. My last test used ~ 25V and 
supplied 600 mA.
  I have no other AC source at a different frequency that would apply 
that much power.

I bought a 74AC14 TDR and used it to measure the characteristic 
impedance and VF.

I measured the Characteristic Impedance, which I then use to calculate 
the matching transformer.
Does the ground resistance show as part of the Characteristic Impedance?
ie. If my ground was 117 ohms and I treated it and it is now 23 ohms, 
will my Characteristic Impedance,
impedance drop by 94 ohms?

I measured my Characteristic Impedance as 358 ohms before Binocular core 
installation,
and measured 501 ohms after Binocular core installation.

  OK guys, this is my first post, there are a few questions, I hope to 
get some help on this project.
btw, I did make a video showing how it compares to my long wire antenna 
using AM band stations.
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuMwGDK6IhQ&t=51s
                     Thanks, Mike Knowlton