[Lowfer] Overall Antenna Efficiency

[Andy - KU4XR]

Hi Lee, And lowFERs:

First the BIG DISCLAIMER: I am not an antenna engineer !!! I am an
experimenter... some like that, and some don't. I don't crunch the
numbers, BUT !!! those numbers are absolutley necessary, because it's
the antenna theory that the qualified engineers have used over the 
years to develop antenna systems with great efficiency. For my part;
this is a hobby, as it should be. I read a lot, understand some of it,
and some I don't. I'll leave the theory, and number crunching to the
guys who really understand it.

Now, my comment on the radials. I see the same thing that J.B. said,
signal radiation is not affected by my radial system as far as the
direction of strongest radiation. I only have radials laid out in a
180 degree pattern, covering the NE, to SW directions, and that's
mainly because there's no need to run them underneath my mobile home.
The greatest benefit from the radial system is to lower the losses
from earth resistance as much as you can, because that is where the
biggest loss is at in a lowFER vertical antenna setup. Loops are of
course the exception, operating without the need for radials.
You will see a noticable directional enhancement effect with the 
radial system when the radials approach 1/4th wavelength at the 
operating frequency. It's very easy to see that we get no where
close to that length with our radials.

73, and have a good day:

BTW; I noticed a very slight hint of my signal on Ralphs grabber
around  1:53 to 1:54 UTC which would be 8:53 am his local time.
That's still close enough to early morning that some skywave
could be present, but it is in there during daylight, even though
it's only a blip on the radar screen... Note #2; I have no radials
going in that direction either..


Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN. USA
LOWfer Beacon " XR " @ 185.29875 KHz ( QRSS-60 )
Coordinates:  N:  35º 43' 54" - W:  84º 3' 16"

http://www.myspace.com/beaconxr

http://ku4xr.webs.com

http://lwca.org/community/YaBB.pl

*** The 5 most important words ever spoken ***

http://ku4xr.webs.com/5mostimportantwords.htm


--- On Thu, 10/21/10, John Bruce McCreath <weazle at hurontel.on.ca> wrote:

> From: John Bruce McCreath <weazle at hurontel.on.ca>
> Subject: Re: [Lowfer] Overall Antenna Efficiency
> To: "Discussion of the Lowfer (US, European, & UK) and MedFer bands" <lowfer at mailman.qth.net>
> Date: Thursday, October 21, 2010, 9:18 AM
> Hello Lee, Lowfers,
> 
> My own findings with beacon EAR is that I've not noticed
> any favouritism in reception reports.  My
> antenna-radial
> system is basically a capital H laid on its side, with the
> two radials directly beneath the antenna.  The ends are
> in
> an NE-SW orientation, yet I've had good reports from
> stations broadside to it.  There you go for what it's
> worth.
> 
> 73, J.B., VE3EAR
> 
> LowFER Beacon "EAR"
> 188.830 kHz. QRSS30
> EN93dr
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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