Field use of Counerpiose

[Gerry Miller]

Does one ground to earth, the far end of an HF counterpoise or just let it float above ground at a field location?  I had always believed it should not be grounded.
Gerry Miller, AA2ZJ
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[k6dgw]

A counterpoise on the ground or buried a short distance [~5-10 cm] is a
low resistance path in parallel with the much higher ground resistance
for the return current for unbalanced antennas [verticals, end-fed
wires, etc.]  They're often called radials or ground-screens, and in
general, more is better, but one is a whole lot better than none.  The
return current decreases rapidly away from the antenna so more shorter
radials is usually better than a few longer ones.  Such a counterpoise
wire is effectively grounded regardless of what you do at the end.  If
it feels better to tie it to a stake in the ground, by all means do so.

An elevated counterpoise is just another element in your antenna. Length
matters.  For a single wire fed at the end, if the counterpoise is the
same length as the wire and elevated, it's a center-fed dipole again
[whether or not it is resonant].  In the field, mine lays on the ground
and is about 1.5 ft longer than the wire [~25 ft].

If you're next to salt water, toss it in.  MF survival radios [500 Kcs]
from WW2 had a balloon or kite to raise the wire, and a weighted braid
to toss over the side of your raft.

73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 6/11/17 1:44 PM, Gerry Miller wrote:

> Does one ground to earth, the far end of an HF counterpoise or just let it float above ground at a field location?  I had always believed it should not be grounded.
> Gerry Miller, AA2ZJ
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> 1 Simple Trick Removes Eye Bags & Lip Lines in Seconds
> Fit Mom Daily
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[Jim Brown-10]

On Sun,6/11/2017 2:28 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:
> An elevated counterpoise is just another element in your antenna.

That's true of ANY counterpoise, whether on the ground or not. In
general, higher is better. The closer any part of an antenna is to the
ground the more power the ground sucks up that won't be radiated.

There is both capacitive and inductive coupling to the earth. Both cause
loss. That's why higher is better, and why an earth connection is NOT
usually a good thing for signal strength. It IS a good thing at the base
of an antenna for lightning safety.

73, Jim K9YC

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[Don Wilhelm]

Gerry,

If your purpose for your "counterpoise" is simply to complete the
antenna, then it does not make much difference whether it is grounded or
not.
But if its purpose is to keep RF off the enclosure of the rig, there is
a difference.  If it is 1/4 wavelength long, then it should not be
grounded - just like any 1/4 wavelength wire, it is a low impedance
point at the 'shack' end.
OTOH, if it is 1/2 wavelength long, ground it to produce a low impedance
at the 'shack end.

A bit of study on antennas and feedline characteristics may be helpful.
The 'counterpoise' acts like an antenna wire.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 6/11/2017 4:44 PM, Gerry Miller wrote:
>
> Does one ground to earth, the far end of an HF counterpoise or just let it float above ground at a field location?  I had always believed it should not be grounded.
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