[600MRG] ground

[Neil Klagge]

Larry, I have noticed a similar situation to yours since moving to WA. Back in Utah I would notice changes in tuning and ground resistance with changes in the weather. But here in Vancouver I am surprised that the changes in tuning have been very minimal. I am guessing that my ground resistance is much higher here and that is what causes the change to be so much less.

As I layed down radials for my 630m vertical here in Vancouver, I have noticed only slight increases in my antenna current with the third, fourth, and fifth radials. The law of diminishing returns is evident to the point that I probably will not put many more radials down. The effort is humungous since I have to use a pickaxe on the area beneath my vertical to lay down each wire. It takes me two hours to bury a 30 ft piece of wire and I am getting exhausted (....can I have a little cheese with my "whine" ,  hi).
One benefit of this situation is that I no longer worry about leaving my beacon running in all kinds of wx. The tuning and swr changes very little. My SWR is usually under 1.01 and never higher than 1.1 with the new way of matching I am using. My series variable capacitor in the center coax lead at the coil, along with the variometer, has given me excellent control over the swr. (see it at http://wg2xsv.webs.com/ and scroll down to the bottom of that page).

So much to learn, so little time....
Ahh, but I am having fun in the process. 
*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`   Neil

My Faith website: http://neilsfaith.webs.com/
My ham radio websites: http://w0yse.webs.com/ and http://wg2xsv.webs.com


 


> Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2015 07:45:47 -0800
> From: larry at w7iuv.com
> To: n6lf at epud.net
> CC: 600mrg at w7ekb.com
> Subject: Re: [600MRG] ground
> 
> OK, what am I missing here?
> 
> My 630 meter vertical antenna system shows no measurable difference in 
> feed point impedance between bone dry dirt and soggy wet dirt.
> 
> For that matter neither does my 160 meter vertical.
> 
> My dirt is composed of volcanic ash, sand, and rock. The so called top 
> soil averages 30 inches deep over cliche and basalt. It is so bad during 
> summer that electric fences are no longer effective unless the pasture 
> is irrigated!
> 
> The 160 vertical is over a radial system composed of 82x 100 foot 
> symmetrically positioned buried wires in a clear 1.5 acre area. I. E. no 
> trees, no towers, no houses, etc.
> 
> The 630 meter vertical is over 16x 25 foot buried wires but the area is 
> more cluttered with nearby conductive objects like metal buildings and 
> towers.
> 
> So can anybody tell me why I NEVER see variations in feedpoint impedance 
> due to ground changes on ANY vertical antenna system I have used?
> 
> 73,
> 
> Larry - W7IUV / WH2XGP
> 
> 
> 
> 
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