[BC] Carl Smith method of dual ground system

[DHultsman5@aol.com]

In a message dated 2/12/06 3:38:48 P.M. Central Standard Time,  
barry at oldradio.com writes:

>The  elevated ground system is not connected directly to ground but,  
>instead, is
>tied to a buss at the tower end of the radials and  then connected to ground
>through a tuning circuit (normally a vaccuum  capacitor).  This tuning 
network
>is then adjusted to resonate the  elevated radials against the buried ones to
>maximize the current at the  tower end of the radials.  I've never really dug
>into the theory  behind this, but I know that Carl Smith used this  technique
>successfully in the 60's for an AM antenna system in Alaska  
>(Barrow?) where the
>site restrictions required the installation  of a very short tower 
>and prevented
>the installation of an  adequate traditional ground system.



*************************************
 
There is an elevated ground system on a DA in Mobile, AL with one tower  
similar to the above description.  It is on 660 kHz. @ 10kW.  with  short towers.
 
As I recall the elevated counter-poise is in four sections and there are  
four boxes all with a series vacuum capacitor to ground.
 
Dave