[SMCARA] Counterpoise Question

Thu Oct 2 19:06:15 EDT 2014

Thanks for the links. Will review them. I read about this on some of the
EHam Forums and basically it is a zag so to speak. Since the invisible
fence is broken in one spot I repaired and a a big spot where they
installed some bushes it at least not a closed loop. I am running a
DXExtream 77' Endfed antenna tied to a tree about 40 feet up and sloes down
to a 10 foot PVC Pipe to the feed-point. Have not completed the coax runs
yet, thats tomorrrow and Sat. So will know more o how things work then. But
I do read and look at all the info I can find and am passed to from you and
others. Thanks Much! Hope to be on air soon!

73

Bill

On Thu, Oct 2, 2014 at 6:43 PM, William S Merritt <merrittws at earthlink.net>
wrote:

> Be suspicious of such low SWR across such a wide portion of the spectrum.
>  I don't recall your antenna arrangement.  There may be some other losses
> or factors in your setup.
>
> Even a good dipole or 1/4 wave vertical will cover a small portion
> (50-100hz) of 80m and maybe half of the 40m band with an SWR of 3:1 or
> less.  The 10m band may only have  1/2-1/3 coverage.
>
> One normally does NOT want counterpoises or radials to be arranged in
> loops due to hysteresis losses and potential harmonics problems.   Radials
> should normally point directly away from the feedpoint whenever possible
> (That is why they aren't called "Zigzags").  :)
>
> Give it a try and see how it does!   73,  Bill, KB4QAA
>
> Here is a link to Lulu.com for Edmund Laporte's 1952, Radio Antenna
> Engineering book, a classic.  Available for free download or high quality
> paperback.
> http://www.lulu.com/us/en/shop/edmund-laport/radio-
> antenna-engineering/ebook/product-17560294.html
>
> Rudy Severns, N6LF has published excellent work with practical demos of
> radial systems.  Fairly easy reading, and fascinating.
> http://www.antennasbyn6lf.com/design_of_radial_ground_systems/
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 10/2/2014 5:42 PM, Bill Jones wrote:
>
>> Well, hooked up the dog fence or one half of it anyways for an approximate
>> run of 200 feet along with my 77 foot end-fed. Retook readings at the
>> feedpoint and the changes from the first time was amazing. from 3Mhz to
>> 51MHZ I am running at or below 5 to 1. 40 Meters seems to run the highest
>> at 5 or slightly less. Rest run at or below 3 for the most part. Will
>> finish running to shack hopefully this weekend. Real results will come
>> when
>> I can fire this puppy up and listen and receive for a while.
>>
>> 73
>> Bill
>>
>> On Thu, Oct 2, 2014 at 12:22 PM, jpsmith <jpsmith at md.metrocast.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>  You can make an antenna out of most anything; you will need a good tuner.
>>> They all work and you will still be able to work the world on a hundred
>>> watts. My favorite is 125ft of 16g wire fed with a coax and strung by
>>> bungee cords 30 feet up in the trees.  Don't worry so much. Jim (N3NV)
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 4G LTE via Verizon Wireless.
>>>
>>> -------- Original message --------
>>> From: Bill Jones
>>> Date:10/02/2014 11:17 AM (GMT-05:00)
>>> To: smcara at mailman.qth.net
>>> Subject: [SMCARA] Counterpoise Question
>>>
>>> Was reading thru some Web entries about counterpoises (tacked to grass,
>>> buried, etc) and one person asked the question about the invisible
>>> fence. I
>>> was wondering if anybody had ever used one for their counterpoise? I do
>>> not
>>> use mine anymore and I have it looped around my back yard and part of the
>>> front yard. I know its broken at one spot so would not be a complete loop
>>> but should not matter if my thinking is right and you are just laying
>>> out a
>>> number of runs like a radials for a Vertical Antenna. Any thoughts and
>>> would the fence be enough of a counterpoise to use? I am figuring around
>>> a
>>> 350 feet in a loop. But broken in one spot for sure so say 2 125 foot
>>> counterpoises? Thanks!
>>>
>>> Bill
>>> KC3DEZ
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>>
>
> --
> Bill Merritt
> KB4QAA/3
>
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