[Fwd: LF: earthing

[Andre Kesteloot]

Peter Dodd wrote:

> >From Peter Dodd, G3LDO
>
> Tried some more experiments with earth systems.
> Made an earth stake from an 65mm diameter aluminium tube and 20mm
> braid, set over 1.5m deep and primed with sea water.
> Also extended the surface wire mesh earth mat from 25square metres to
> 50square metres. My LF antenna does not perform as well as one might
> think on 160 and 80m and the netting earth was an attempt to improve this.
> Disconnected the mains and central heating earths, they dont seem to
> make any difference.
> I can now get 2amps of antenna current on 136kHz for less than 100W
> of transmitter power but I am unable to determine which of the
> earthing methods works best - they seem to work together.
> When the ground is really waterlogged the antenna current is about
> 1.8 to 1.9 amps. When the surface water seeps away the current rises
> to over 2Amps.
> The plastic bag cover for the loading coil works a treat with
> operation possible through all the wet weather we have had lately.

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