On Tue, 30 May 2006 09:21:56 -0400, chuck wrote:

If anyone spots any errors of fact or significant omissions, I'd welcome
appropriate "recalibration". Thanks in advance.

1) Grounding plates

Will not work if submerged as much as four feet

Hi Chuck,

Don't know how you got this miss-impression.

2) Wire in water

A one-foot length of wire immersed near water surface is sufficient for
near-perfect results based on W7EL's NEC-4 model results. Assumed
performance is similar to grounding plate.

This conclusion is conflict with the first, making it a mystery how
you came to either in summary. The focus on "water surface" is as
though you are trying to force it work like a pool of mercury. Water
is NOT a ground plane in the sense of conductivity. Water is a
terrible conductor. It is only its huge mismatch with air that gives
it such superb propagation, not match, characteristics. Distinguish
between the two.

3) Radials

Even shortened (loaded) radials elevated over seawater work as
near-perfect based on N6LF's NEC-4 modeling. Objections to radials are

The objections are they are wholly unnecessary when ground is so
easily achieved by conventional means. You would need 120 radials to
shield against the loss you perceive, and that loss doesn't matter
when you stand to gain so much in propagation. You couldn't even
field a tenth of these radials. At HF, and maintaining their tune
and symmetry, you would be lucky to fit in 2. At that stage of the
game, there is absolutely no match advantage over conventional
techniques aboard a small craft (and at HF you don't qualify for any
thing other).

4) Counterpoise (i.e., mast, forestay, shrouds, lifelines, engine, metal
tanks, 100 square feet of copper, keel, rudder, etc. bonded together)

This type of
counterpoise is also the approach recommended by both Icom and SGC.

Only because it is already available and doesn't ask you to go any
further for no obvious advantage.

5) OCF dipole w/horizontal component along deck

Not commonly used,

Who would choose a complicated design over so many simple ones?

Is that where it stands, folks?

If you want a dipole, make a VERTICAL dipole, even a lousy one.

Finally, and to repeat, learn the distinction between matching and
propagation. Your focus on matching issues is like seeing your glass
3/4ths empty. Looking at the propagation advantages in comparison is
like seeing a pitcher of water nearby that will fill that glass a
dozen times.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC