In article ,
"Vito" wrote:

You're both right.

Well not really. There is a "Giant Difference" between Land Based HF and
MF Rf Ground systems and those that can be constructed aboard ANY Vessel.
Radials in a Land Based Antenna System aren't designed to "properly
couple it's image to the soil." They are to provide that image for the
antenna system. The soil has very little to do with the Rf Gound System
in a conventional Marconi Antenna System. If it were otherwise one
would expect to see a lot more "Soil Remediation" going on around such
Antenna sites, like adding Salt to the area, or Chicken wire, bonded to
the radial system. Waves also really don't have a lot to do with
Antenna systemm in the Marine Enviorment.

"Conventional wisdom puts the antenna as high as possible."

Nope, not really. The antenna just needs to have sufficent length,
so as to be able to resonate at the Lowest Frequency, of desired
communications. Likely 2182.0 Khz for most folks. That would be a bit
longer that 75 Feet, for most common Endfeed Wire Antenna tuners built
since the early 70's. Now stringing 75 feet of wire and whip means
going up very high on most small vessels, and that is why "As High as
Possible" is the CV for MF systems.

Other than that, you are in the Ball Park.


Bruce in alaska
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