On Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:36:33 -0600 Mike Fatchett W0MU <[email protected]> wrote: > I was reading ON4UN's Low Band DXing Book beverages not >working near the > ocean...
Mike, Here is the definite answer: it depends. I have built a number of Beverages near the sea, with varying results. On VK9WWI (Willis Islets) the Beverage ran parallel about 100 yards from the shore and 2 meters above the high tide line. It worked. On Mellish Reef (VK9GMW), we tried three Beverages that were close to the water. Two did not work at all. The third one was 120 m long, ran across the narrow island and had its ends about 10 meters from the water's edge. It was near useless on 160, but OK on 80 and great on 40. On TX3A, we built three Beverages. Again, two that were close to the water, running alongside the beach, did not work. A third, one, which was about 180 meters long and ran diagonally across the island's rocky spine, with its ends about 20 meters from the water's edge and about 6 meters above the high tide level, was an excellent performer. My tentative conclusion is that if the Beverage is away from the water by more than .3 wavelength, and there is no salt-water in the soil under the Beverage wire (!), it will most likely work, even if the ends are close to the water's edge. Keep in mind, however, that many coastal areas and low islands have a salt-water table as little a foot under the soil. A Beverage there will most likely not work no matter how far from the sea. 73, George, AA7JV _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
