Topband: 160m vertical saltwater grounding

[Grant Saviers]

Rob,

I considered this for my MM SSB.  It doesn't work.  Several published 
tests prove that.  Ok as an AC/DC ground.

Grant

On 1/9/2020 01:18, Herbert Schoenbohm wrote:
> 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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>> Windows 10
>>
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