[ARC5] Re: [Milsurplus] Re: Antenna tricks

[Richard Brunner]

Well, there are experts and there are experts; try this.
The end of the antenna is a high voltage point, and is indeed a sort of 
mechanical point.  As we all know, where you have a high voltage at a point, 
there is a very high voltage gradient through the air.    It's reasonable 
that the voltage gradient was sufficient to snuff the poor 'ole bug.  Note 
also that a neon lamp attached to the end of the antenna will also light, 
BECAUSE OF THE HIGH VOLTAGE GRADIENT.  You don't need a ground connection... 
Note that high voltage equipment uses rounded guards to reduce the voltage 
gradient to reduce or eliminate corona when the air breaks down from the 
high voltage gradient.  As supporting evidence, (about high voltage 
gradient) in high voltage switchyards everything touchable is grounded, 
because if left floating it will assume a potential somewhere between the 
line voltage and ground, and when you touch it it is very unpleasant.

Richard Brunner, AA1P