[Fwd: LF: Re: ground loss problems]

[André Kesteloot]

WarmSpgs wrote:

> One of the most effective ways of dealing with ground loss at 175 kHz, by
> American LowFERs, has often been a mat of galvanized fencing ("chicken wire")
> under the antenna.  However, I suspect the trees are the major factor in Rik's
> difficulties.  If close enough to the antenna, they will carry much of the
> current that should only be returned via the earth itself...and, one suspects,
> trees are rather lossy conductors.
>
> I am not hopeful that one could screen the trees, as such; but isolating the
> antenna earth from the physical earth might be one way of taking them out of
> circuit, to a certain extent.
>
> I had a modicum of sucess reducing tree loss by moving my loading coil up
> closer to the top hat of my antenna, though not enough to achieve useful range
> with 1 watt transmitter input power.  Regretably, I'll probably have to wait
> until I live in a less sylvan region.  Or until we finally have a ham band of
> our own.
>
> John Davis
> KD4IDY