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GRIT · 20-07-2021, 07:18

I can't help myself. I'm going to have to try that, Belize sailor.

I've got the M802 set up now, and it works well. I'm using a piece of 14ga wire not far from the upper shroud, on Stb side. I've talked to Florida from Summerside, PE, Canada; but the shroud faces south. I'm going to turn the boat around and try it again, to see if the mast and other stays block my signal.

Cheers.
Paul.

belizesailor · 20-07-2021, 08:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRIT

I can't help myself. I'm going to have to try that, Belize sailor.

I've got the M802 set up now, and it works well. I'm using a piece of 14ga wire not far from the upper shroud, on Stb side. I've talked to Florida from Summerside, PE, Canada; but the shroud faces south. I'm going to turn the boat around and try it again, to see if the mast and other stays block my signal.

Cheers.

Paul.

It goes against my limited knowledge of antennas, but a pro radio tech once made a comment to me about uninsulated stays performing better. That puzzled me, but I never had a chance to follow up with him on that comment.

I assume it would only apply on rigs with no path to ground, like cats or deck stepped masts.

Based on his comment I cautiously tried it. I assumed it would just be a provosional experiment, but its worked so well Ive never removed it.

Maybe some of those here with more extensive knowledge of antennas can chime in on this subject.

team karst · 20-07-2021, 08:54

I just put my hf antenna on my cat. It works beautifully with strong signal reports from bahamas to MI. And MN on 20.

Shakespeare 390 on stb sugar scoop area, with standoff support on solar rack.

team karst · 20-07-2021, 08:56

Using icom auto tuner, grounded thru a tx cap of .05uF to saildrive using 2” wide copper strip.

Bycrick · 20-07-2021, 09:01

It’s possible, even likely, to WAY overthink this. It’s certainly possible to characterize the radiation pattern of a driven antenna element, but this is usually done in "free space, " well away from any other conductive influences. Once you start adding any other conductive elements, things get very complicated, very quickly. And measuring the effects of these parasitic elements isn’t easy at MF/HF frequencies because one has to measure at a distance from the array. Years ago, when building AM broadcast antenna arrays, one had to drive in a 10-mile circle around the antenna and take signal strength readings every 3-5 degrees. And it makes no difference whether these parasitic elements, like the mast or booms or shouts/stays are grounded or not, only that they happen to be the right/wrong length in maybe the wrong place relative to the driven element. You can throw up almost anything that the tuner will tune, and not be able to tell much difference.

GRIT · 20-07-2021, 17:16

I couldn't wait to try the rig as the antenna, so I did a test today.

I disconnected the KISS ground, and reconnected my foil and two through hulls ground system. I then connected the ungrounded rigging to the tuner.

I just talked to the DooDah net on 8 mhz, from PEI Canada to Long island; a distance of about 500 nautical miles. Not that far really, but a seemingly good result for one test.

I'd love to find someone in Fl, willing to do some tests with me on reception. I'd like to compare the rigging to a 14ga wire of around 40 feet. I'd also like to compare my KISS ground to the foil and through hull grounds.

I have a shakespeare antenna as well, but it's not on the boat yet. I'm trying hard to avoid using the shakespeare antenna, as my wife and I both think it's an eye-sore. Which is why I've been using a 14ga wire, soon to be upgraded to 10ga wire.

The tuner says I can go as long as a 120 foot wire.. Can someone comment on having an antenna go up one side of the mast, then part way down the other side? I don't mean against the mast, I mean that it'll start about 50cm forward of the upper shroud (on deck) and go up to about 2m above where the upper shroud attaches to the mast, then around the front of the mast, and down the other side a ways, until I reach the total length of the roll of wire (100ft, about 30m)

Will this help to send a signal to both sides of the boat, or will a "crooked" antenna not put out a good signal? I am aware that it's not recommended to bring the antenna that close to the mast, but pretending the mast wasn't an issue, is the "V" shape of the antenna a problem?

I've heard of an inverted V antenna, but I'm pretty sure that's a di-pole antenna, and I'm just talking about a long wire.

Thanks for your time.
Paul.

belizesailor · 21-07-2021, 06:49

Id be happy to help you test from Panama, but Im not on the boat now. Planning to go there in August though.

GRIT · 21-07-2021, 07:31

I'll try Panama in August, sounds good to me.

Just did Sailmail to Panama last night, using the un-insulated shroud (and, I suppose, the whole rig). Also had luck with Trinidad, and Texas. I seemed to have better luck with the KISS than the two through hulls.

It'll be nice to do back to back tests, using KISS, or Through hulls; and my longwire, or the uninsulated rig.

Cheers.
Paul.

AA3JY · 21-07-2021, 08:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRIT

I seemed to have better luck with the KISS than the two through hulls.

It'll be nice to do back to back tests, using KISS, or Through hulls; and my longwire, or the uninsulated rig.

Cheers.
Paul.

Have you tried tying both ground systems(counter poise) together..?

team karst · 21-07-2021, 09:02

I am avail. In NE FL now.

GRIT · 21-07-2021, 09:07

Thanks Team Karst.
Which frequency would you like to try?
And at what time?

Cheers.
Paul.

team karst · 21-07-2021, 09:10

Hows about 14.29 and down? I just need 5 min notice. de WB4SPT

GRIT · 21-07-2021, 09:15

My HAM license has run out, and I plan to retake the test this year. Can we try some SSB Frequencies?

Hold on, I gave you a duplex channel.

12359 and down please.

Cheers.
Paul.

Formerly KG4HGM