[TowerTalk] antennas in water

[Michael Tope]

Jan Erik Holm wrote:

>Too much speculation here and totally wrong.
>
>D4B was up on a mountain, far above the ocean, D4C is
>at same QTH right now you can check the web site.
>
>CN2R is not close enough to the ocean, looks like it´s
>about 1 - 1.5 mile to the water, I have been there
>myself and the ocean isn´t even close. Yes he has a
>rotary dipole for 160 but also phased verticals.
>
>73 Jim SM2EKM
>--------------------------
>Michael Tope wrote:
>  
>
>>Jon,
>>
>>I am convinced you are correct. If I am not mistaken when Alex 4L5A/D4B 
>>was contesting from Cape Verde, he ran a horizontal wire yagi 
>>(inverted-V elements) on 160 meters from a bluff overlooking the 
>>Atlantic ocean. I remember sending him an email congratulating him on 
>>having an S9 +20dB signal in Southern California. He replied that his 
>>effort was disappointing since his amplifier had broken and he was only 
>>running 100 watts. I nearly fell out of my chair after reading this. I 
>>always got the feeling that Alex was an above board guy, so that when he 
>>said that he was running 100 watts, he meant it.
>>
>>I think W7EJ/CN2R runs a rotatable dipole on 160 at 150' from his 
>>oceanside location with similarly impressive results. Then there was 
>>ZL8R on Kermadec with the dipoles high in the tall trees on a bluff 
>>overlooking the ocean. They were S9+ in Southern California on 160  just 
>>running 100 watts.  I know this is anecdotal, but  other than corrosion, 
>>I don't think having an HF antenna close to an ocean beach is ever a bad 
>>thing.
>>
>>73, Mike W4EF.........
>>
>>    
>>

Hi Jan,

Mea culpa. I do appear to be guilty of jumping to conclusions. I could 
have sworn that I remembered seeing water next to those pictures of 
CN2R's antenna farm. I just went back to his website and looked at them 
again - you are dead right - no water anywhere.

D4B/D4C, on the other hand, does look out over water (I just looked at 
the pictures on the D4C website to be sure). As you point out, they are 
further away and higher than I had imagined, however. Photos on D4B's 
old website made it look like the station was on a high cliff at the 
waters edge.  Camera angle can really mislead, I guesss.

BTW, I would be curious to know how that rotary dipole at CN2R compares 
to his phased verticals when working stateside on 160 meters.

Thanks for setting me straight.

Mike W4EF...................