In a message dated 98-03-25 23:07:23 EST, you write:
<< I'm planning to measure things here. Are there better ways to measure
soil conductivity than the info in the ARRL Antenna Book (by W2FMI and
W2FNQ originally in 4/78 and 3/81 QST)? Looks like a simple device.
73 Tom >>
There is even an easier way to determine the soil conductivity in your area.
If you have an AM broadcast station in your area that uses a directional
antenna, contact the chief engineer of the station and ask if you can look at
a copy of their "full proof of performance" for their directional antenna
system. In order to get a station license for the directional antenna, it is
necessary to take field strength measurements in a number of different
directions ( azimuths or "radials") to prove that the directional pattern is
contained within the authorized radiation limits. These measurements extend
out to about 20 miles (32 km) from tha antenna and will document the soil
conductivity for each azimuth. This will give you a very good idea of what
the conductivity is in your area. You might also get lucky with some stations
that use a nondirectional antenna in that they may have had allocation
measurements made out to distances of more than 20 miles in order to make a
higher power possible form their transmitter sites.
Hope that this helps you, Tom and to all others that are interested in trying
to determine the soil conductivity in your area. If you strike out with a
local station, I might be able to research our files at work to see if we have
any documented measured data.
73...................de Goose W8AV
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