[Lowfer] antenna current

[Eric Smith]

Thanks, Bill.

If you can believe this map, ground conductivity is better here than in 
many parts of the country:  http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/m3/

Last night (and into the wee hours of the morning) I was doing some 
additional tuning, and had some experiences I really cannot explain:

My best ground is a line running to my outside water faucet.  If I 
disconnect that ground, my antenna current drops significantly.

But I ran a few short radials...only 6 - 8 feet in length.  I had these 
lengths available and I wanted to just see what adding them would do, 
planning to add some long radials later.

But I found that when I connected these radials to my final ground my 
antenna current DROPPED.  Thinking that maybe this somehow affected my 
tuning, I re-tuned the loading coil until I achieved maximum antenna 
current.

Then, just for grins, I disconnected the radials and my antenna current 
INCREASED!

It seems these radials are hurting me more than helping.  Can you explain 
what I'm seeing here?  I'm a little confused.  Being ignorant doesn't 
help, either :)  But right now, the only ground that seems to help is 
grounding the final to my water spiggot.

Thanks,
Eric