I'll take a look at that this weekend. Thanks!
One more question: The rule is no more than 3m in length. This obviously is physical length and not electrical length, since electrical length is significantly longer than 3m.
It just seems to me there's much more that can be done given a radiator length of 3m than what most of us do now.
Has anyone tried multiple radiators? i.e. a 3 pronged conical radiator with each radial one meter in length? I doubt that this would be of any benefit at these low frequencies, but I thought I'd throw the question out there.
To be absolutely clear as to the figure of "3 meters" and what that length constitutes in the FCC rules, the antenna, feed line, transmitter and ground lead must NOT EXCEED 3 METERS. This applies to Part 15 AM service only in the traditional and extend AM broadcast band. Someone else here, on this forum, has chapter and verse memorized where you can find that in the regs.
By using a conical radiator, you might change the impedance of the antenna. However, you would still have to address the antenna ground loss issue which has the greatest effect on a 3 meter radiator in the AM portion of the band. Remember the three most important words in low power AM service is groundwave, ground wave, ground wave. Half of that realization includes the word GROUND.
Reduce ground system resistance, increase efficiency, increase range; it's just that simple. Make the antenna to ground lead 3 meters, then spend your time and resources on the ground system. That is where you'll find pay dirt.
Marshall Johnson, Sr.
Senior Pastor, President
Rhema Christian Fellowship, Inc.
Rhema Radio - The Word In Worship
AM 1660 - FM 93.5
http://www.rhemaradio.org
"spend your time and resources on the ground system. That is where you'll find pay dirt"
SInce a good ground is "in the dirt" 🙂
Experimental broadcasting for a better tomorrow!