On Sun, Jul 1, 2012 at 7:01 PM, Fred Jensen <[email protected]> wrote:
> Theoretically, they > shouldn't need a return path, however mine is much easier to cram power > into with about 8 inches of wire hanging off the shield of the coax at > the radio on 20m. Oddly, EZNEC confirms it, YMMV. > Not sure whose theory you are quoting. Some genre of portable tuning networks require just a tiny bit of wire so there is actually someplace to stuff electrons. Higher power levels will need more wire to stop arcing. I always tell people to hang a yard or meter of wire there if the network has the the input from the transmitter isolated from the high impedance side. EZNEC correctly calculates the "capacity to the cosmos" of the wire in the model and knows whether it can be used as a counterpoise, which is what that eight inches actually is if there is no path from the high Z side to the transmitter side. The easiest thing is to use as a counterpoise for an EFHW is to solder a little flexible wire to a six inch nail, and stick it into the ground. 73, Guy. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
