"James Bradley" bravely wrote to "Mike Ross" (24 Jul 05
 00:18:16)
 --- on the heady topic of "Antenna"

 JB> MIKE ROSS wrote to TOM WALKER, "Re: Antenna" on 07-05-05 22:44
 MR>  The only radios that work at the best they can are
 MR> those with a balanced antenna because the ground is is not needed.

 JB> Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't a balanced design have a
 JB> 'virtual ground' roughly between the points that the wires diverge?

Virtual means imaginary. It is just a mathematical curiosity.
Grounding that point won't make a difference at all. Consider a
balanced antenna in deep space, there is no ground to be found
anywhere but it still works as well as on Earth. Now an unbalanced
antenna can also work but it must be supplied an artificial ground or
"counterpoise". This consists of at least 2 radials establishing a
ground plane opposite the antenna. In effect the combination of
unbalanced antenna and counterpoise behaves like a balanced antenna.
Mobile antennas like CB's & taxis are a familiar example.

 M*i*k*e

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