Okay, here's another question on antenna configuration. I have just gone
through the pricing out of backstay insulators, and received the suggestion
that a good, less expensive alternative would be to substitute a Kevlar
backstay for the rod that I have presently, and wind a piece bare of wire
around the Kevlar, up to near the masthead as an antenna. It is
significantly less expensive, and the Kevlar has the advantage of being
stronger and lighter than the wire.

Anyone know of any disadvantages to this approach??


"john s." wrote in message
om...
Glenn Ashmore wrote in message
news:JRxob.119973$sp2.25191@lakeread04...
In the process of laying up the hull I incorporated a couple hundred sq.
ft of bronze bug screen to serve as a counterpoise. In addition two
runs of 2" copper foil run down the center of the hull to the keel area.
Capacitors between the foil and the keel bolts isolate any DC from
getting back into the counterpoise. That is probably enough but as I am
installing two aluminum tanks, I wonder how kosher it would be to tie
them into the counterpoise with more capacitors.

It would add another 14 sq ft of coupling area but would it be
introducing other problems?

Glenn, I think you are overdoing it....I just have a copper strap from
the ground of the antenna tuner to one keel bolt (external lead keel)
and when I tested the syste,after installation (in New York), I got a
55 report from a ham in NW Spain. The only time Herb (Southbound II)
did not hear me loud and clear was because my copper strrap had become
corroded/
john N2ZOA/MM