[Lowfer] AMRAD Vertical

[Ed Phillips]

BOB RIESE wrote:
> 
> >
> >'lightening signal' could be brought back to the shack via an unused
> >wire in
> >my existing supply cable. Has anyone tried using a fluorescent tube
> >connected to an antenna for a bigger effect?
> >
> >Bill
> 
> I dont think a florescent lamp would light on remote lightning and if
> the lamp did light up
> 
> MOVE FAST
> 
> Better still make a cohere ( god the spelling )( hmmf passed spell check
> ) Somewhere I read that
> was a method to detect lightning. The RF would cause the bell to tap and
> notify the commercial
> radio OP to disconnect the antenna or operate the ground switch. In those
> days a lot of traffic would
> be automatic and the ops would have many duties . The notification would
> alert the remote
> recieve op to shut down in a timely fashion.
> 
> Bob

	The word is coherer, and they are easy to make.  If you're interested
do a Google search on the word and you'll learn enough to make your
own.  Basically an insulating tube with metal plugs at the ends and a
small amount of conductive filings in between.

	A more practical way to detect lightning is to measure the change in
the local electrical field.  There is at least one lightning detection
system for aircraft which consists of four vertical rods connected, in
effect, to the four deflection plates of a CRT.  When a lightning strike
occurs the spot will be deflected in a direction corresponding to the
stroke, by an amount proportional to the voltage change.  I haven't seen
a detailed description of the equipment, but am almost sure it doesn't
really use such a CRT.  Watson-Watt, a British radar pioneer (the
inventor of radar if you listen to his words - he wasn't) got started in
the subject in the 1920's (National Physical Lab, I think) using
primitive CRT's in exactly this arrangement.

Ed