[Lowfer] The Lowfer antenna

[Ed Phillips]

Ashlock,William wrote:

> One additional parameter I think that is worth putting on your list is
> losses from capacity coupled objects near the monopole antenna such as
> trees. Because of the hi-Z on the upper portions, just a few pfs is all that
> is needed to raise the total system AC resisitance out of site. Often this
> looks like an earth loss but adding no amount of copper under the antenna
> will make it go away.
> 
> Regards,
> Bill Ashlock


	I'm very much interested in the last point.  For a long time my beacon
antenna was within 6 feet of a couple of California live oaks which were
much higher than it's 50 feet.  Always suspected that I was losing
significant energy that way, and certainly could see the effect on
antenna tuning and loading when a branch rubbed on the tower. 
Unfortunately, we lost both these trees a few years back and really
couldn't tell any difference in signal before and after.  I'd hoped that
signals would go up, but if they did the difference sure was negligible.

	Any measurements to report?

Ed