Topband: 160m vertical saltwater grounding

[Herbert Schoenbohm]

A very effective device called *Dynaplate* works very well as a saltwater
grounding system for boats or limited areas to run full-sized radials.  You
can get one for $100 from the link below.
https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=13331

Herb, KV4FZ

On Wed, Jan 8, 2020 at 6:30 PM Robert Fanfant <rfanfant at hotmail.com> wrote:

>
> Am looking to activate a location with very limited space surrounded by
> ocean. Think of a small rock surrounded by saltwater/ocean.  The vertical
> will be a tall 60’+ fiberglass pole and made to resonate on 160m. I would
> like a way to reduce the required space of the 160m antenna radial field
> due to the limited physical space available. The vertical will be located
> at the waters edge, or even possibly over the oceans surface. At the feed
> point, will be a choke designed for 160m. We should also assume maximum
> power of 1.5KW being fed into the vertical and the activation will be for a
> 2 week duration of time.
>
> One idea that came up is to use a floating piece of conductive material as
> the verticals counterpoise. Specifically,   a thin conductive plate
> designed to float on the oceans surface. From the antenna’s feed point,
> will be a short length of  ground wire say about 6’ long,  to this
> conductive plate.
>
> Question(s):
>
>   1.  Is it possible to just use the ocean as the ground plane /
> counterpoise ? That is, can this idea work?
>   2.  If so,
>      *   How do I determine the required square footage/size of the plate?
>      *   What material should be used as the conductive plate? (Nickel,
> copper, aluminum, etc..? )The thought here is to make this plate as light
> as possible, yet effective. It  will need to last the duration of the
> activation (~2 weeks) in/on saltwater, it needs to handle 1.5KW at the feed
> point, and likely exposed to air and saltwater as it floats on the ocean
> surface.
>
> -rob N7QT
>
>
>
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