[Lowfer] "State of the Art" Medfer Antenna

[ToddRoberts2001 at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/6/2011 7:44:59 P.M.  Eastern Standard Time, 
ashlockw at hotmail.com writes:
Todd,

I think that  a good many of us are interested in where you obtained the 
below information. It  most certainly differs from my understanding of what is 
 allowed.

Bill

Hi Bill, most of the info on part 15 AM broadcast  band antennas and 
grounds 
I have came from several LPAM websites like  Part15.us and Radio Brandy 
and from several part 15 transmitter  manufacturers like SSTran and 
Rangemaster.

They mostly agree that to  comply with FCC rules part 15.219 the
transmitter should be mounted on or  close to the ground, the antenna
is usually a copper pipe about 1/2 to 1 inch  in diameter with no tophat
and the ground lead should be no more than a few  inches in length.

I made a mistake on the antenna length - I forgot that  the rules now say 
the
total length of the antenna, transmission line and  ground lead should be no
longer than 3 meters, not ten feet! I believe 3  meters works out to around
9 1/2 feet.

Any ground system that is above  ground would be considered by an FCC 
inspector
to be a radiating ground. So  the transmitter should not be mounted high
above ground on a pole or with  elevated radials as they would be  
considered a 
radiating ground.  

Ultimately though it is the FCC inspector that would make the final  
decision,
but any 3 meter antenna with a top hat or "T" type antenna would be  
considered longer
than 3 meters and would not pass inspection. Likewise any  elevated ground 
radial system
up in the air would be considered a radiating  ground and would not pass
inspection or a transmitter mounted high above  ground on a pole.

The websites I mentioned have case histories where part  15 setups failed 
FCC inspections
and the reasons for failing.

73 -  Todd WD4NGG