Hi Mike,
Ocean front locations are very difficult to deal with, especially at higher
latitudes where the difference between high and low tides can be extreme.
Much better are large salt marsh sites such as W1KM's contest QTH,
K3ZM's contest QTH, and W2GD's 160 meter contest QTH where
changing tides aren't a major concern, the distance of the antenna from
water's edge isn't constantly changing, and much of the Fresnel zone is
over highly conductive salt marsh soil in most directions.
At least two factors affect the loss of a vertical antennas on or near salt
water:
- near field loss within about 1/2 wavelength of the antenna base, and
- low angle of radiation determined by the Fresnel Zone in front of the
antenna in the direction(s) of interest.
If the base of the vertical isn't very close (less than 1/2 wavelength) from
the edge of the salt water, the losses of a vertical over sandy or rocky
beach soils can be worse than over more conductive soils further from the
beach. Its very difficult to permanently install a vertical within 1/2
wavelength
of water's edge except perhaps on 160 meters. A more practical solution is
to install the vertical on higher conductivity soil close to the beach, with
an extensive radial system to minimize near field losses.
However, even if you place the vertical over an extensive radial system
back from water's edge, you still need to be close enough to gain the very
low angle radiation advantage of salt water in the Fresnel Zone.
Unfortunately this forces the vertical to be within just a few hundred feet of
water's edge before the benefits of a beachfront location rapidly diminish.
My recommendation is that you find a hilltop location unless you can find
a large salt marsh QTH similar to W1KM, K3ZM and W2GD.
73
Frank
W3LPL
From: Mike & Coreen Smith VE9AA <ve9aa@nbnet.nb.ca>
To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Sent: Thursday, January 1, 2015 8:53 AM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Contest QTH, hilltop or seaside?
If you had to choose between a 600' hilltop or an oceanfront QTH in VE9, VE1
which would it be?-----6m thru 160m.
Sure, 600' doesn't sound like a lot, but most of the land around these parts
is from 30'-300' ASL. Lets say the ground is very poor and rocky &
undulating.
Now to the oceanfront QTH. These are harder to find. I mean the *ultimate*
reasonably priced ones are w/o a thick wallet
but perhaps something in southern VE1 or VE9 which is a bit of a point of
land giving 180-220* of water with fair but maybe not perfect views
to EU/AF and the USA & SA.JA would be blocked as would all northern paths.
At least 3-10* horizon and all over land in any case.
What about less of an "over the water shot" where you could only choose one
primary direction. Would you still do it? Choose EU over all else?
NA perhaps?....size is likely 2-5acres..what about QRM to neighbours?
Antennas would be very simple (no 100' towers in either case)
Perhaps 40'masts with K1WA/K8UR (4) sloping dipole arrays on all bands
10-160. No stacks, maybe not even any short towers. Maybe just HF9V
verticals.
So, strictly for contesting which would it be? Oceanfront or
"hilltop"..remember-simple antennas only.
I await the comments.
Mike VE9AA
Mike, Coreen & Corey
Keswick Ridge, NB
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