Topband: Radials, EZNEC and far field

[Frank W3LPL]

Hi JC,

I didn't think it would be productive to cover in-the-salt-water
antennas in my reply to a specific question about how to improve
the performance of an antenna hundreds of miles from the ocean...

But if you can build your permanent antenna in salt water in
Atlanta, it definitely would perform great  :)

Maybe in a few million years it will be possible

73
Frank
W3LPL




----- Original Message -----
From: "JC" <n4is at comcast.net>
To: "Frank W3LPL" <donovanf at starpower.net>, "topband" <topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2022 12:25:35 PM
Subject: RE: Topband: Radials, EZNEC and far field

Hi Frank

You wrote " .  A vertical over a salt marsh or within about a wavelength of
salt water will produce
6 dB or more of gain at low angles compared to a vertical with poorly
conducting soil in its reflection zone 
"

The assumption that "next to the water" is the same as "in the water" , is a
not right.  It is not the same ! 

I listen to George signal with vertical "in the water " and the 10 db
difference in signal is real.  Moving the antenna on the beach and you lose
10 db or even more on practice, not on paper.

I see that on my S  meter more than a dozen times.

George has a vertical on his house in Miami, the ground plane is just a
plate down the water. The vertical is made with fiberglass pole 18m high. My
antenna is a full size vertical with a good radial system over the Everglade
land, if I dig 2 Ft I have water from the Everglade underground river. 

George can run a pile up from Europe with 10W, I can keep up with him
running legal limit power. We are talking about 160m only.

73's
JC
N4IS