Radio Questions-C.Morris and other owners

[Ricky Prevete]

New to HOW, I read the archives about ham-ssb radios, and have some questions. Curt Morris, which outbacker do you have your eye on, and why that one?  Has anyone heard of using inexpensive copper flashing from hardware supply stores for grounding? What do you think? What other antenna setups have people used successfully?What mods have people made that improved their systems?Any volunteering of complete system description would be appreciated.

 

[Ken Shubert]

That Depends

It depends whether you just want to do some casual hamming or also use the radio for SSB Marine use. Bigger boats have good bonding of metal parts to the keel for lightning protection and that's generally a good enough ground if you can get to it. Copper flashing or copper tape is a good way to tie things together. A favorite antenna on sailboats is to insulate the backstay and use a tuner at the transom. Sometimes it's insulated up to too but a loop works well and it remains grounded for lightning. If cutting into the rigging makes you wince, there are marine and ham antennas both that can be mounted on a stern rail or radar tower but they generally cover just one band. Anything that works for a ham on an automobile will work on the water, and probably better. Ken -- K0KSS/V Wouff Hong

 

[Bill Bell]

SSB/Ham Antenna

I have a SGC auto tuner mounted aft connected to a piece of 10 ga copper wire that goes to the top of the mast. No extra grounding. If I can hear them, they can hear me. Very simple. It works and the rigging is still intact.BillSV PegasusLegand 37

 

[Ricky Prevete]

More info, Bill

You have no grounding and it works? How do you do that? The copper wire isn't a dipole, is it? Any more details would be appreciated.

 

[Guest]

More Info 2

Also, do you insulate the bottom of the copper line, and where do you attach it at the bottom end?