On 21 Aug 2003 07:18:20 -0700, (Jim Woodward) wrote:

OK. I know just enough to be dangerous here. In an effort to learn
enough to be even more dangerous, I ask two questions:


The insulated backstay is to electrically isolate a length of wire rigging to
transmit, which requires an antenna that can be "electrically" tuned by the
antenna tuner to a low standing wave ratio (SWR) to force the power from the
radio to radiate from the antenna.

To receive a random length wire antenna (i.e. mast and rigging) often works
fine.

JJ


1) If this arrangement yields a satisfactory signal and a better SNR,
then why does virtually every crusing boat use an insulated backstay
or a whip? Remember that we're talking about weatherfax, which is
often difficult to receive.

2) I note that the ARRL Antenna Handbook devotes a full chapter to
loops. All are carefully isolated from ground at all corners -- the
ground comes after the matching network. Am I missing something?

Jim Woodward
www.mvfintry.com

"Meindert Sprang" wrote in message ...

In this configuration, the mast and standing rigging work as a magnetic loop
antenna, which *should* have something you would call a short-circuit to
ground in order to close the loop. A loop antenna picks up the magnetic
component of a radio signal and is far less suscebtible to noise than a whip
antenna (single isolated backstay too).

Meindert

James Johnson
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