[Elecraft] RE: verticals...........

[Ron D' Eau Claire]

Stuart, K5KVH wrote:

> A vertical dipole system is ground independent and does not benefit from a
> counterpoise on your lot.  See L. B. Cebik's excellent antennas site,
> <cebik.com> where he investigated this.  A dipole is a complete
> antenna unto
> itself.

Right on!

I would add that there are times when a transmitter using a 'ground
independent' halfwave antenna still needs some sort of r-f ground. That is
when the half wave antenna is fed at the end, or any antenna is fed at a
voltage loop (high impedance point) with unbalanced feed.

The antenna does NOT need an r-f ground, but the rig does!

"Voltage fed" antennas got a bad reputation somewhere in the 60's or 70's
for "putting r-f in the shack instead of in the antenna". That is nonsense.

The problem is only that the antenna system does not keep the transmitter at
a low impedance point so the transmitter itself must be equipped with an r-f
ground. That can be simple ground rod if you are close to it, or a 1/4
wavelength long wire attached to the case. This is NOT part of the antenna;
it is only a way to hold the transmitter at r-f ground. So the "quality" of
such a ground only need be good enough that the rig doesn't appear "hot"
with r-f as evidenced by getting "bit" with r-f when putting the microphone
to your lips or seeing the SWR jump around when you touch the knobs, etc.

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289