[Elecraft] Counterpoise vs ground wire ?

[Guy Olinger K2AV]

On Sun, Jul 1, 2012 at 7:01 PM, Fred Jensen <k6dgw at foothill.net> wrote:

> Theoretically, they
> shouldn't need a return path, however mine is much easier to cram power
> into with about 8 inches of wire hanging off the shield of the coax at
> the radio on 20m.  Oddly, EZNEC confirms it, YMMV.
>

Not sure whose theory you are quoting.  Some genre of portable tuning
networks require just a tiny bit of wire so there is actually someplace to
stuff electrons. Higher power levels will need more wire to stop arcing.  I
always tell people to hang a yard or meter of wire there if the network has
the the input from the transmitter isolated from the high impedance side.
EZNEC correctly calculates the "capacity to the cosmos" of the wire in the
model and knows whether it can be used as a counterpoise, which is what
that eight inches actually is if there is no path from the high Z side to
the transmitter side.  The easiest thing is to use as a counterpoise for an
EFHW is to solder a little flexible wire to a six inch nail, and stick it
into the ground.

73, Guy.