Return-Path: Received: (qmail 21486 invoked from network); 28 Oct 1999 20:47:03 +0100 Received: from unknown (HELO magnus.force9.net) (195.166.128.27) by guiness.force9.net with SMTP; 28 Oct 1999 20:47:03 +0100 Received: (qmail 31988 invoked from network); 28 Oct 1999 19:44:32 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO post.thorcom.com) (212.172.148.70) by magnus.plus.net.uk with SMTP; 28 Oct 1999 19:44:32 -0000 Received: from majordom by post.thorcom.com with local (Exim 3.02 #1) id 11gvFJ-0006G4-00 for rsgb_lf_group-outgoing@blacksheep.org; Thu, 28 Oct 1999 20:30:01 +0100 Received: from kang.tinet.ie ([159.134.237.28]) by post.thorcom.com with esmtp (Exim 3.02 #1) id 11gvFH-0006Fc-00 for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Thu, 28 Oct 1999 20:30:00 +0100 Received: from p138.lifford1.eircom.net ([159.134.235.138] helo=beachwood.tinet.ie) by kang.tinet.ie with smtp (Exim 2.05 #23) id 11gvFB-0003LL-00 for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Thu, 28 Oct 1999 20:29:54 +0100 Message-ID: <001801bf217b$626148a0$8aeb869f@beachwood.tinet.ie> From: "Finbar O'Connor" To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org Subject: LF: re: tuned counterpoise Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1999 20:33:56 +0100 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset=windows-1252 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.5 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 Precedence: bulk Reply-To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org X-Listname: rsgb_lf_group Sender: Content-transfer-encoding: 8bit

From Finbar EI0CF.

Having recently put into service an ex NDB beacon ATU, I now have a spare ATU. It suddenly struck me, how about a tuned counterpoise. I have now erected one about 15 feet below the antenna, but it shoots off in different directions to use up the wire, but all at about 12 feet off the ground. The net result is an increase in Antenna current from 3.9 amps to 4.6 amps, however I am now experiencing breakdown of the feedthrough insulator , in the wooden window frame, causing the current to

drop back to 4.2 amps on average after a short while on the air, I can smell the ozone and see and hear the the blue buzz and sizzle of the arc. But it has certainly made a difference to the Antenna current. Has anybody else experimented on LF with tuned counterpoises.

Tonight the 28th I have a qrp beacon running on the band, 1.4 amps. Any reports would be gratefully received.

73 Finbar EI0CF