[MRCA] Re: [Milsurplus] Tree Antenna Maybe underground?

[Transmaster]

I have seen this design.  I does work but the reception is down
something like 12 db.  The antenna must be buried in dry sandy soil no
more then a few inches underground. better yet dig a trench and fill
and surround the antenna with Styrofoam peanuts and with a thin layer
of soil. The antenna is more a curiosity then a usable design. The
blast resistant antennas used at the missile sites here in south
eastern Wyoming are a retractable vertical that is under a reinforced
cover, when needed the concrete cover has demolition charges to clear
it away before the the antenna is extended

                                          Ken de W7ITC



On 12/8/06, Richard Arland, W3OSS <richard.arland at verizon.net> wrote:
> Actually just prior to retiring from the USAF in 1987 the Rockwell/Collins
> folks came by HQ TAC at Langley and gave us a 3 hour briefing in their
> survivable HF radio system that, in fact, used underground antennas. It
> seems that he Russians had been doing this for quite a few years. The idea
> was to have a system that would work right after a nuclear exchange when the
> ionosphere was badly disrupted. The R/C system used computers and prop info
> to pick the mode, freq and antennas to establish and maintain commo links.
> It worked pretty well, according the R/C, but they were trying to sell the
> idea to the military at the time. Not sure if it ever went over with the
> military but it sounded rather interesting. Their system relied on something
> similar to Pactor/packet and was basically error-free even during extremely
> bad prop condx.
>
> If there are any 5th Group SF types in the audience who served in Viet Nam,
> they can tell you about the "underground" antennas in the "A" camps. As I
> understand it they placed antenna wire inside bamboo poles and laid them on
> the ground or just under the ground because "Uncle Charles" liked to nail
> the commo antennas with mortars during the initial stages of an attack. The
> fall-back radio set was normally a GRC-109 that would load into a wet brick.
> Jim Kearman, KR1S, told me of copying CW right in the noise levels from
> these guys. Good ears, huh?
>
>
> 73 Rich W3OOS
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Radioman390 at cs.com>
> To: ""Richard Arland"" <richard.arland at verizon.net>
> Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 2:32 PM
> Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Tree Antenna Maybe underground?
>
>
> >I have in my possession an underground antenna (receive only), still new in
> >the box. It is a cylinder maybe 5" in diameter and 18" long with coax
> >coming out.
> > The instruction sheet says to bury it in moist soil down about 2 feet.
> > Apparently a commercial product. Inside the cylinder is something
> > encapsulated in tar.
> > Any info?
> >
> >
> > --
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.15/580 - Release Date: 12/8/2006
> >
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> MRCA mailing list
> MRCA at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/mrca
>


-- 
Kenneth A. Crips, W7ITC Home of the Chew Crew,  Red Headed
Irish Terrier House Ninjas, Beezie, Chic', and Cowboy
10th degree black belts in Mouch Fue, Bed Fue, and
Con Artist Fue.