----- Original Message ----- From: "Herb Schoenbohm" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2011 4:30 AM Subject: Re: Topband: Fence "ground screen" instead of wire radials?
> On 9/2/2011 6:06 PM, Brian Machesney wrote: >>> Thanks to NI0C for reminding me that this info was presented by NC0B >> > Chicken wire or rabbit wire make an inexpensive alternative to an > expanded copper mesh ground screen. Just roll it out in multiple > directions from the tower base and tack it to the ground on top of the > grass. The grass will grow through it in a short period and it will be > invisible. that is easier than rolling up the sod for sure. The only > problem is the connection but since the actual tower is most likely > galvanized steel there isn't an issue of dissimilar metal just figuring > out how to making a convenient connection via a galvanize steel bus with > similar jumpers to the actual tower. Soldering is not possible and cad > weld is expensive. Tinned copper braid jumpers with the proper > preparation can work and galvanized steel angle brackets as well. I used 4' x 50' rabbit mesh (2x4") that was welded, then galvanized and then plastic dipped for over 10 years at a prior QTH. It was purchased that way at a garden store. Galvanizing is very easy to solder to with just normal rosin solder and all I did was run some stranded #12 copper to the #6 copper ring at the base of the shunt fed tower. A bit of spray autobody undercoating sealed the mesh solder connections. Prior to this there were 60 radials, 60-135' long and performance was fair. With the 4 sections of mesh on top of them it became a pileup buster and contest winner. Carl KM1H _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
