Topband: Verticals on the beach

[Stan Stockton]

Kenny,

It’s not easy and in fact I haven’t done it for anything lower than 40m.  It would be very interesting to compare something at the water’s edge to what I have now.  The shoreline runs SW-NE - I think about 215-35.   The question is how much better it would be if the antenna were right next to the water.  I don’t have a clue as to whether it would be significantly better or not.  Of course I’m talking about Europe.  

If you drew a straight line 45 degrees from the tower it would not be over water until you went 15 miles, yet I’m robably over water in less than 100 feet if you go about 25 degrees from the antenna.

 I cannot imagine that I have no significant improvement to 45 degrees because a straight line to 45 degrees does not go over water for many miles but I don’t have the knowledge to prove it.  I would bet, however, that it would be very difficult to match the signal to locations 45 degrees with a single element located a quarter mile SE of where my tower is located.

Maybe someone has some idea of just how much better my signal would be if I had a 160m vertical 65 feet closer to the water?  If I were convinced it would be significantly better it would be a safe bet that I would find a way to accomplish it - at least for on-site 160m DX Contest operations.

73…Stan, ZF9CW

> On Dec 29, 2022, at 2:58 PM, Kenny Silverman <kenny.k2kw at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Stan ZF9CW said:
> 
> For the verticals I have put up on a temporary basis very close to the water, I am pleased with just two elevated radials.  I tried radials on the ground and in the water but as you and others have said, everything changes with the tide and when the waves get big.  
> 
> If anyone had a protected area to eliminate the waves and then something that would float with copper sheeting on the bottom, that would be great!  My permanent antenna, a shunt fed tower, is not as close to the water (about 70 feet away) 
> 
> 
> Stan, If installing a vertical at
> The waters edge is easy enough, that should be much better than the one 70’ back. With the vertical at the waters edge, you have more directions over salt water
> 
> 
> Regards , Kenny