[Towertalk] Balloon antenna/tower

[Ted Bohrer]

Hello Group,
Maybe someone can direct me with this project...

I have a Sebring convertible with an Icom 706 and Charlie's Hi-Q 
Stealth 4/80 Antenna.
I want to use my Icom in the car for portable ops next to a salt 
water marsh near Newport Beach, but I don't want to use the mobile 
antenna.

So here's the hairbrained scheme...
I float a Happy Birthday helium balloon 30 - 40 ' up holding a 
vertical wire antenna which is tied to my rear bumper (but not while 
driving).

For a better ground than my plastic car frame I will use 50' of 1/2" 
copper tubing coiled up in 3' diameter coils, and then toss this big 
coil into 12" of salt water marsh.
AES sold me 25' of 3" wide flat copper sheeting to connect the coil 
with the LDG AT-11MP auto tuner ground lug. (I didn't use a wire 
connection because of the too high inductance created)

So if this contraption is to work, how long should the antenna wire 
be at 14.200?
And comments on my sanity will be taken in stride.

73, Ted



-- 
"What could possibly go wrong?"- N7QY