[Lf] Front Royal Antenna

[Frank Gentges]

Hi,

Some discussion on the LOWfer mail reflector has been going on regarding 
the use of a well casing as a low resistance ground connection for LF.  
That is just what we are using on one end of the Front Royal antenna.

The well casing may be connecting to the lower reaches of the ground and 
if the antenna is acting as a loop then the lower we reach the higher 
effective height of the loop.  On the other hand concentrating currents 
above ground or at the surface could reduce wave losses arising from 
waves launched under ground and travelling to the surface from under the 
ground.

Frank K0BRA


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2000 18:05:16 -0600
From: Dick Carroll <dixie at townsqr.com>
To: Dave Riley <daveaa1a at xensei.com>
Cc: lowfer at qth.net
Subject: Re: [Lowfer] antennas

Dave Riley wrote:
> 
> Hi Troops,
> 
> Tried friends well pipe for ground many years ago when we worked CW
> on 180khz  from Plymouth to here daily.
> 
> His metalic well pipe made barely any difference in sigs compared
> to the wires on the ground.  I bet if it was tuned seperately
> then you may have a good 'image' plane.
>

 Guys, ther are lots of references in the literature that
say a wllpipe is not a good RF ground, or antenna
counterpoise, which needs to be at or near the surface to
return antenna currents to the antenna. A wellpipe instead
helps dissipate them into the earth, as a poor RF
counterpoise would do. Use radials on or near the surface
for best performance.
 Use the wellpipe for your lightning ground, if you dare to
risk the deepwell pump to the lightning...but it might be an
expensive move. Deepwell electric pumps are often damaged by
ligtning strikes that follow the service wiring down the
well to the pump motor. I'd be trying
to shunt the lightning to ground somewhere far from the
house OR the well.

73, Dick W0EX
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