Tom Ring wrote:
wrote:

How many Yagi's have floating driven elements without ground paths?


None on VHF/UHF/SHF that I build and anyone I know builds. Maybe on HF
it's different. I don't know why it should be, though.

Although normally all the other elements float on anything but 6 meters.

You're both over-generalizing. In VHF/UHF/SHF yagi construction it's
quite common to find driven elements connected to the boom or floating.
The same choice or a different choice may be made for the parasitic
elements.

There are many different reasons for these choices, including:
* size of elements and boom
* mechanical strength requirements
* effect of boom on element resonance (depends on mounting method)
* long-term effect stability of element resonance
* feed impedance of driven element (affects choice of feed method)
* number of elements involved
* perceived or actual effects of "static".

This makes the choices quite complex, and makes generalization
impossible. Quote an example, and someone else will quote you a
counter-example.

Just one other thing: PLEASE let's not talk about elements being
"grounded", way up there at the top of a tower.



--
73 from Ian GM3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek