Topband: Ground Conductivity

[donovanf at starpower.net]

Excellent skin depth reference here: 


www.antennasbyn6lf.com/files/ground_skin_depth_and_wavelength.pdf 


Ground characteristics are much more significant for vertical polarization 
than for horizontal polarization. 


73 
Frank 
W3LPL 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Richard (Rick) Karlquist" <richard at karlquist.com> 
To: "Robert L. Chortek" <Robert.Chortek at berliner.com>, "topband" <topband at contesting.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2020 1:23:52 AM 
Subject: Re: Topband: Ground Conductivity 

On 3/23/2020 3:01 PM, Chortek, Robert L. wrote: 
> A quick question for the collective wisdom on this esteemed reflector: 
> 
> How would one categorize the quality of ground consisting of grass. For example, if you live next to a large (many acres) open space made entirely of well watered grass, would that qualify as “average ground“, “above average ground” or something else? 
> 

RF conductivity depends on the soil per se, not what is growing on it. 
Grass (especially if watered) will grow on any kind of soil, so 
it indicates nothing. The lack of grass also doesn't necessarily 
indicate anything. 

Where I live, the soil is 100% clay and the RF conductivity is 
high. Ten miles to the south, the soil is regular dirt. 
Vastly better for growing anything, even weeds. But the RF 
conductivity is considerable lower. 

A casual observer sightseeing would have no idea of this 
change in soil. 

N6LF has developed techniques for measuring your ground 
parameters by characterizing very low dipoles. If you 
really want to know about your ground, this is what you 
need to do. Way too much work for me or nearly anyone 
else. 

Rick N6RK 
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