[MRCA] Gilbert Field Antenna Caution and Warning

[B. Smith]

When I checked into the HF field exercise last Friday I heard one 
station mention that the nearby station was "90 db" over S9 or something 
similar.  How he measured that I have no idea.  :-)
I caution those that set up in the field particularly in groups to be 
aware of the strong RF fields present from near by sets.  ( no this is 
not a lecture on RF safety) but a warning that is  easy to burn out or 
blow the front end of those expensive modern radios. Its very hard to 
replace the front end device (FET's etc) on the older radios with 
discrete components but it is a nightmare on the newer radios, some of 
which have sealed modules.

When the other nearby station transmits disconnect your antenna or 
ground it, turning the set off may not be a solution.   Be especially 
careful when setting up your portable antenna near a fixed wire antenna. 
Good rule of thumb if the other operator is within hailing distance (you 
can hear them with out a radio) then that is close and precautions 
should be taken.

The same precautions should be taken when mounting antennas on a 
military vehicle, on some mobile installations I have measure a several 
tenths  of a watt in dissimilar antennas that were close to each other  
with power levels in the typical mobile range. On my military vehicle I 
would lower the antennas that were not in use so that they were not 
vertical and parallel  with the active antenna.

Z