He called it a "counterpoise".Not a counterpoise. He simply made a vertical dipole.
Still cool to talk all around the world
He called it a "counterpoise".Not a counterpoise. He simply made a vertical dipole.
In this vid the guy is using a "counterpoise" wire
Homebrew Buddipole with Modifications - YouTube
Its on youtube therefore it must be true...
Here you go, a completely different use of the word completely unrelated to the use of the word you linked to in your youtube video.
Ham Radio MARS Counter Poise Ground Saturn Dipole Antenna - YouTube
In your linked video he uses the term for half of what is essentially a dipole. In my linked video they simply increase the conductivity of the earth below a horizontal antenna. Which one of them is correct? They are on youtube so they must both obviously be true... Sure, whatever.
The reality of the situation is neither of them are true...
The internet is a big cause of the spread and misuse of the term. You can find someone who will agree with almost any use of the word on it, that doesn't make that use of the word correct. If you can find me a reputable source (that rules out the internet) that disagrees with not just some, but *ALL* of the reputable sources I have I would love to see it... I am also happy to quote from the reputable sources I have access to if you like, or you can simply look in two previous threads that talked about this topic that I participated in.
The DB
I guess I should've asked why the guy in the vid angled his "counterpoise" away from the antenna centerline.
Hey DB, would W8JI be considered a reliable source? The idea of counterpoise is scattered all out into this article by W8JI.
End-fed vertical j-pole and horizontal zepp
Someone posted this link: http://www.w1npp.org/events/2010/2010-F~1/ANTENNAS/HF-VER~1/830202~1.PDF
I'm surprised that no one is talking about this comprehensive and more recent testing (1979) of the idea regarding counterpoise. But maybe it is because the report all but discounts the capacitor response idea that goes back to 1920's or earlier thinking.
As far as w8ji, he is very knowledgeable, however I respectfully disagree with his use of the term. If he were a posting member here I would love to see what he has to say about the debate at hand.
About the .pdf file you referred to, I have yet to have a chance to sit down and properly read it, and likely won't for a few days. I'm happy to give you any thoughts on it then if you would like...
The DB
.............As I see it there are three main areas to consider, its origins and history when referring to antennas, its definition, and its current uses. The origins of the term are not in doubt. Any number of ARRL and Antenna Engineering books that date to the 40's and 50's and before have excellent descriptions of what a counterpoise was at the time. While all of them are somewhat different from each other, all of them (that I have access to) explain it as a network of wires that are elevated above and isolated from the earth. This allows it to act as one plate of a capacitor with the earth below it acting as the other plate. Most sources call it a capacitive ground, generally referring to a counterpoise by using the paraphrase "sometimes called a counterpoise".
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The DB
Patents as a source of information, interesting, why didn't I think of that... Thanks for the link, will add it to the list of stuff I need to read through. The term "counterpoise" is used a lot in that page.
As far as the two strikes against me goes, I'm not so sure.
So one of those strikes is because I "respectfully disagree" with W8JI. Using that as a benchmark, wouldn't it be fair to put a strike against you because you disagree with W4RNL, who, unlike W8JI, (so far as I am aware) has done actual research on the term "counterpoise" and written a paper based on that research? Perhaps you have seen it?
As far as the article goes, reread the summary of findings. All the article does, in my opinion, is show that how people thought a "counterpoise" worked was not the case. It also shows that a "ground screen" system, which is effectively the same thing except grounded, is affected by the same things that a counterpoise is, namely the conductivity of the earth below the radials... If there is anything other than capacitance that can cause the effect measured in the radials of both systems and the earth below them I would love to know what that is.
I guess in the end it becomes a matter of opinion. One thing it definitely does not do is suggest any other version of what a "counterpoise" is, including W8JI's, is in any way justified as it only uses the word "counterpoise" to mean one thing, the traditional meaning.
The DB
I'm guessing this would change with frequency. I am also guessing that that the quality of the ground would make a difference as well, as a more conductive ground would naturally allow for more capacitance and thus allow for similar results with a smaller radial system. A more conductive ground would also allow a radial system to be further away (higher if you will) and still have the needed capacitance between ground.
Question 4) What happens when it rains? That would change the conductivity of the ground beneath the radial system would it not? Would it also change the tuning of said antenna? If I were to build such an antenna would it be worth my time top stabilize and/or potentially increase the typical conductivity of the ground in question?
Marconi, I did read the article before my last post. You are correct, they concluded that the counterpoise does not function as it was traditionally thought to function.
A quote from myself in homers original thread:
Direct link to that post.
I was asking these types of questions right from the start. I did assume (along with many before that article was written) that the counterpoise had similar currents throughout, which the article you presented showed was incorrect.
I don't think it rules out the "acts like a plate of a capacitor" idea, but instead shows the volatility of the other plate (the earth below) and its effect on the counterpoise itself. This effect does make sense, and I think demonstrates that the definition of the term "counterpoise" applies here (between the elevated radial system and the earth below) perfectly.
I guess we have two different views based on the same information.
The DB