[Elecraft] [KX1,K1,KX3] QRP Portable Antenna

[Don Wilhelm]

Phil,

One of the "facts" is that there *will* be a path for RF return 
current.  Whether that return current goes to another half of a dipole, 
or through ground radials or through elevated radials (must be tuned) or 
run into one or more wires laying on the ground, or the RF finding its 
own path through the internals of the tuner and connected transceiver 
and possibly through the operator's body, that path *will* exist.  If 
you were operating at higher power you would find a lot of "RF in the 
shack" creating 'strange happenings'.

So yes, you will find better results by providing a planned electrical 
path for that return current.  One or more wires that couple themselves 
to the earth will work just fine.  The end of that wire or wires 
connects to your tuner.  If it is laying on the ground, the length is 
not critical.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 8/23/2012 2:51 PM, Phil Hystad wrote:
> I have operated my KX1 out in various parks and fields by hanging one end of a wire up in a tree that I would raise using fishing line and a sling shot.  I have the KX1 and the little T1 tuner.  I have had some reasonable performance but maybe not as good as I can get.
>
> A while back, Wayne said that he would use just a single wire up in the tree and then another wire laying on the ground as sort of a ground plane.  I have not done this and I am wondering...
>
> 1.  Is more then a single ground wire (wire laying along the ground) good enough or would two or three be better?
>
> 2.  My wire antenna has usually been on the order of 50 feet but it also depends on how close I get for reasonable operating position (e.g. picnic table)?  So, would a ground wire need to be the same length or would half the length be as reasonable.
>
> 3.  How does this compare to a Buddipole antenna?
>
> Anyone?
>
> 73, phil, K7PEH
>
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