[Lf] ground planes ?

[Andre' Kesteloot]

C Andersson wrote:

> Hello LF group,
>
> I just want to share my last findings in the chase of "the missing dB's".
> Yesterday I changed the antenna ground plane and added 10x6 m chicken wire around the antenna base plus 12 radials 20-25 m each. The chicken wire was solderable with a 300W soldering iron.
> The feed impedance went down from 25 to 22 ohm. Not very much difference.
> I have not used radials before, just a 8 m steel pipe + a various other ground connections in parallel.
> Today's measurements however show a noticeable improvement of 1,6-2 dB (with the same antenna current).
> Now, after all,  the estimated ERP seems to correspond with measured values.
> Interesting that the ground plane in some way improves the far field signal.
>
> (BTW, the cost/improvement factor is 400 SEK/dB + 5 working hours. (400SEK=46 USD))
> More details on my home page: http://home5.swipnet.se/~w-54761/fs.htm
>
> 73
> Christer
> sm6pxj