[Lowfer] re Antenna material question

[Alan Melia]

Hi Andy, my thoughts are you could get some misleading answers here :-)) As
I have said before about LF, a lot depends on the actual enviroment the
antenna inhabits.

Whilst the increase in diameter gives a small reduction in "DC" resistance
(which is GOOD) it also increases the capacitance to ground and the
surroundings, which may be lossy, which is BAD. That is the "theoretical"
aspect. If anyone has tried it, the only real reliable test would be
extensive field strength measurements at  say a few km under similar weather
conditions. This is not an easy thing to do whilst maintaining an accurate
input to the antenna. Increases in antenna current may not indicate a higher
field strength if the extra current is flowing to ground through a lossy
environment rather than through the whole of the "radiation resistance". If
you have a commercial sized antenna (like 300ft and acres for radials) then
you might see a definite advantage. You might do better with two of three
strands of  18 gauge wire for the vertical...easier to ensure a low loss run
and no dissimilar metals problems.

Remember at LF putting up a new antenna often seems to improve things
because you redo connection and clean insulators that may have been starting
to give problems with the old installation. A reliable comparative test on
this scale is extremely difficult.

Best Wishes
Alan G3NYK