FW: [Elecraft] RF build up

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Lo' these all-too-many-winters ago there were actual reports of Hams using
folded dipoles with open wire line in heavy ice/snow regions. As y'all
probably know, a folded dipole has a direct current continuity across the
feeders, since it's essentially a dipole with an extra wire running parallel
to the dipole radiator and connected at each end. 

If a dangerously heavy ice coating appeared, they'd connect the feeders to a
variable power source and allow enough current to flow to heat the wires and
melt the ice. Took a while, but it beat trying to splice and raise the
antenna again in mid-winter. 

Being a "California Boy" in those days - Southern California at that - I
never really had any need to test the idea first-hand. While others were
snowed and iced-in up to their end-insulators, we were praying for a few
drops of rain before the dry season resumed in the spring. 

Ron AC7AC