[Lowfer] how strong would half wave dipole be?

[Ed Phillips]

Art wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> I recently became interested in ballooning, and began to wonder about 
> launching a 1 watt transmitter with a half wave dipole antenna. I have 
> located a free helium source and a surplus balloon.
>
> With small diameter wire (for light weight), how far could I be heard 
> on 185 KHz if the antenna was oriented vertically, and flying between 
> 20K and 100 K feet above sea level?
>
> Would the QRS signal be readable in the entire USA, or would be range 
> be much lower?
>
> Has anyone ever heard of others trying this?
>
> Art 

     Not sure if anyone has ever tried this but there is a big problem 
[other than Part 15 rules].  Because of ground reflections your vertical 
radiation pattern would break up into a whole bunch of lobes and 
depending on the exact altitude none might even be at the right vertical 
angle for effective radiation and there may be no lobe along the ground 
for ground wave excitation.  I assume you're thinking of a free-floating 
balloon.  If not have you ever tried to launch a balloon on a long 
tether when there was any wind at all?

Ed