Next message: susan meckley: "[world-cruising] Re: ssb antennas...."
Friends,
Every time one cuts a cable and inserts a mechanical splice (i.e., an
insulator) a potential failure point is introduced to the system. No
matter how one tries to rationalize that mechanical connection an
additional potential failure point has been added. That's a fact!
If one can avoid potential failure points then that is prudent.
That's fundamental engineering.
Of course an insulated backstay works well as an antenna. So does
just hoisting a piece of wire from a halyard. So does the split-lead
antenna for GAM. The fact is that on a sailboat the counterpoise
(RF ground) has more to do with the efficiency of an antenna than the
antenna itself (assuming adequate length, insulation, and tuning).
So, make your antenna choices as you will and SSB to your hearts
delight.
Donald KL2EZ
Anchorage, Alaska
--- In , grant harris <gharr8 at dot dot dot >
wrote:
>
> I think Jeff asks a great question for those of not knowing the
finer aspects of this antenna business.
>
> I am looking forward to some great and informative answers.
>
> Thanks Group, for participation.
>
> Fair whether,
>
> Grant
>
> jeff at dot dot dot wrote: I wish someone
else would weigh in on this. I am not an expert in antennas,
> and I too generally question conventional wisdom, but I don't just
dismiss
> it either. If a wet salty string will work, then an insulated
backstay
> should work also.
>
> I suspect the copper clad steel used by the military, if that is
the case,
> adds strength while retaining the surface conductivity. It would
be similar
> to Susan's dual antenna. But there are other considerations; such
as having
> an uninsulated backstay next to the antenna wire. What effect
does that
> have? Is the chainplate grounded or not? Is conductivity a big
issue?
> There is NOT a lot of amperage running through the wire. I don't
know
> answers to these questions. I do know that my backstay antennas
works,
> looks neat, and is strong.
>
> So that is the bottom line for me. An insulated backstay appears
to work
> just fine on my vessel and on others, and is no more a weak point
in the
> rigging than any other rigging terminal. For Susan to say "they do
fail, not
> if, but when" applies to every rigging wire on the boat. Don't be
afraid of
> an insulated backstay. If failure is an equal probability at
every swage or
> terminal, then yes, an insulated backstay is twice as likely to
fail, but it
> is still a small number which can be mitigated by close inspection
and good
> workmanship. On my boat I have 20 points of rigging failure with
an
> insulated backstay, 18 without. The overall risk has gone up by
about 10%.
> This issue is not one of backstay antennas, but of inspecting and
replacing
> old rigging.
>
> Regards
>
> Jeff
>
> Jeffrey M. Stander
> listserv moderator and webmaster
> s/v BEATRIX - KP44 #276 (1980)
> SKYPE ID: pacific_voyager
> www.kp44.org
> www.svbeatrix.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: susan meckley [mailto:ussvdharma at dot dot dot ]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 12:35 PM
> To:
> Subject: [world-cruising] Re: ssb antennas....
>
> I would never recommend cutting the back stay for an
insulator...they do
> fail, not if, but when. However, that being said, if one must use
the
> backstay for an antenna, be sure to use the insulators such as Sta-
lock
> provides.
> It is always wiser to run a separate antenna wire. Good results
can be
> otained with a string (soaked in salt water) as an antenna, when
conditions
> are good...I have tried it.
>
> But...when conditions are marginal, you want everything possible
going for
> you...COPPER from the radio to the upper insulator
>
> I wonder why the military and commercial shortwave stations
use "copper
> clad steel" if steel such as the backstay, is ok then why waste
the money
> to use copper clad steel.
>
> BUT, in electronics, if it works don't change it untill it does
not work
> and you have to do something.
>
> Nuff said on this subject
>
> Bye peoples...heading out to sea in 10 days....Johnston Island
KH3
>
> Susan, W7KFI
> USSV Dharma
>
> If you don't change direction you will arrive exactly where you're
headed!!
>
> Susan Meckley, Skipper
> USSV Dharma
>
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