Mike, It is not that they are near an ocean. It is if the conductivity of the salt water is near enough under the beverage element such that the salt water (or salted earth ie. salt marsh) is acting as the other conductor of the "twin lead" transmission line (the Bev wire is one conductor in the transmission line and the earth is the other conductor).
If the Beverage is far enough above such conductive earth so that the "earth conductor" is a bed of sand, coral, or non-salty earth, it will perform in the classic fashion. This was proved at XZ0A in 2000. The bevy of Beverages were constructed over the top of the island through jungle foilage for the most part. There was considerable earth and probably rock below the Beverages down to the sea level. The antennas performed excellently. I also constructed a mirror image of the Bev oriented to JA, but installed it along the shore line with nothing but shore rock at low tide and sea water at high tide. This antenna was an absolute dummy load whereas its twin, located a couple of hundred feet distant, was performing normally. Three years ago on Ducie at VP6DX the Beverages were all constructed over the island with the ends terminating within ~ 30 feet of the open ocean or lagoon. The maximum elevation of Ducie is about 15 feet AMSL. The surface composition of the atoll is a deep bed of coral fragments and dead shell pieces. As evidenced by the accomplishments of the low band operators during the peak of the austral summer, the Beverages worked extremely well. This is the Beverage operational theory as I understand it, and have proven conclusively to myself to be true. Your mileage may vary. 73 de Milt, N5IA -----Original Message----- From: Mike Fatchett W0MU Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 8:36 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Topband: Beverages near the ocean I was reading ON4UN's Low Band DXing Book and ran across a comment he made about beverages not working near the ocean and the Heard Is folks could never get one working. I know we used one from V47 and it worked great. It was located probably no more than 300 ft from the water. This is the first time I have read or heard of this phenomenon. Have others had issues with beverages near the ocean? _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1321 / Virus Database: 1500/3589 - Release Date: 04/21/11 _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
