I do not know of any data showing that salt water enhances the signal of a
horizontal antenna, however after operating from a number of locations in
the Caribbean it certainly seems that way. If you use vertical antenna you
will need to have them very close to the water to fill out the
pseudo-Brewster angle.
Antennas near salt water require a lot of maintenance, especially if there
is a lot of wind. My P40A station was 1/3 mile from the water and even with
regular painting the Rohn 55G tower was badly corroded and even had a few
holes. Any aluminum that was in contact with stainless steel disintegrated.
Big Grips needed to be replaced every three or four years.
John KK9A
To:<towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject:[TowerTalk] How close to salt water is close enough?
From:"Mike & Coreen Smith VE9AA" <ve9aa@nbnet.nb.ca>
Date:Fri, 17 May 2013 12:17:47 -0300
List-post:<towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Wife and I are looking at waterfront properties in VE1/9/VY2/VO1/2. Ideally
I would like to locate my antennas inland (in the trees)
a little ways to (hopefully?) minimize(??) salt water corrosion and/or
'potential' problems from neighbours.
If I was to locate a yagi up 40' of tower, (or say a Butternut vertical 10'
agl) or even a 6m yagi on a short tower inland does it matter?
Let's say the rocky land itself was 20' ASL and 400-500' away from shore, is
there any benefit seen in being "close" to salt water or is all the benefit
(whatever that may be) seen only if the salt water is nearly underneath the
antenna?
Currently, I work all bands from 160m thru 6m.
Comments on corrosion prevention appreciated also. I've always lived inland
and my only experience with salt water was 3 weeks in 1996 as CY0AA, in
which the salt air corroded all of our aluminum antennas making them look
very old.
Thanks much,
Mike VE9AA
Mike, Coreen & Corey
Keswick Ridge, NB
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