[ADXA] Inverted L and the Snow

[Dennis Schaefer]

I agree with Joel about fresh water as part of a ground system.  Back in
the early days, I had vertical antennas and snow cover didn't help at all.

I've made contacts while walking, riding a bike, and flying in a helicopter
and airplane, as well as a sailboat. I intended to make some CW contacts
from my kayak and researched how to use a radial field on fresh water with
a vertical antenna.  I found out that dropping a wire into the water would
negate any effect, like Joel said.  The area I fished in had a lot of lily
pads, so I thought about draping a radial or two on top of the pads.  I
settled on running a single radial around the edges of the boat.  That
would have done the job with a single radial and ZM-2 tuner with a QRP
rig.  I may or may not get back in the kayak, but at least I found out a
few things while thinking about it.

73,
Dennis/RZ

On Fri, Jan 10, 2025 at 3:25 PM <w5znjoel at gmail.com> wrote:

> I remember, once upon a time, I was having a chat at some radio event with
> Roy Lewallen, W7EL, the developer of EZNEC. A guy walked up and said “I
> have a question about ground systems and radials, and I realize that ground
> systems and radials is a lot like talking religion….” Roy interrupted him
> right there and said “That’s an easy answer and I don’t even know you’re
> question, I don’t discuss religion!!!!”
>
>
>
> OK with that out of the way, the short answer is no. It won’t help the
> ground system on any antenna. We’re talking about fresh water (in any
> form), so the only real impact it will have is if you have a ground radial
> system that is under fresh water by a couple of inches you effectively
> don’t have any radials. Of course, salt water is an entirely different
> animal.
>
>
>
> With that said, this is a religious question so opinions vary greatly and
> someone here may offer a different perspective (opinion). As a close
> personal friend of mine, Larry Price, W4RA (sk), told me on more than one
> occasion “You’re entitled to your opinion, even if it is WRONG!”
>
>
>
> 73 Joel W5ZN
>
>
>
> *From:* adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> *On
> Behalf Of *Michael Nettles
> *Sent:* Friday, January 10, 2025 9:10 AM
> *To:* ADXA <adxa at mailman.qth.net>
> *Subject:* [ADXA] Inverted L and the Snow
>
>
>
> Since we are in the middle of the current Snowmagedon I have a question
> for you guys. W5ZJ and I talked about it this morning too.
>
>
>
> Does all this snow help the ground system on an Inverted L?
>
>
>
> 73
>
> Mike kb5wbh
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