Re: [Paddlewise] VHF antenna on a kit, SW radios...

Julio MacWilliams wrote:
> 
> I know several people out there use kites to take advantage of
> the wind instead of fighting it to paddle from one place to another.
> Then, marine radio frequencies are restricted to line of sight communication,
> which for a kayaker whose head is about 2 feet over the water means
> a practical maximum of 3 miles due to the curvature of the earth.
> 
> If someone wanted to make a radio transmition reach very, very far,
> would it work to lift a wire antenna with a kite? I think it would
> even be easier to do it from a beach in those cases where the beach
> happens to be by a cliff wall and radio waves only go out to sea.
> 
> Also, for emergencies, it would probably be better to carry a short wave
> ham radio. With that it is almost guaranteed that you can get to
> someone who may call the rescue people for you.
> I understand that serious boats and ships carry both VHF and SW radios,
> which leads me to think that maybe there is a SW frequency to call for
> help in emergencies; does anyone know which frequency that is?
> 
> - Julio
>        Hello Julio

With your interest in kites and being one of people that use kites, 
thought this might help.
Hope you and some of the others will find the following interesting and 
maybe useful!?

In 1919 when Marconi made the first trans-Alantic wireless message, he 
used a kite to haul his antenna high enough to do the job."so he got the 
jump on you!!" It was made by Brookite(for what its worth)! :>)
also for what its worth..., I have used kites also to get an antenna up 
higher on both VHF and the HAM HF freqs. With a good steady 
wind,(12>18)and a parafoil kite in the 8 to 16 sq. ft. range, you can 
haul a 100' of "mini 8" or "8 X" and something like a flexable J-pole(or 
even the rubber duck) up with NO problem. Bear in mind you will likely 
need a second person to control the kite unless you have "very" safe 
flying area!
Give it a try, just be careful, some of the kites can generate a lot of 
lift and with extra attention being on the antenna, things can get 
"harry" in a hurry! :>)
If you have a Ham friend, you might also try running out the kite 100' or 
so, tie on 100' of small guage copper wire(don't let it come under load 
of the kite, just hang limp), and onto it, I have connected 50' of TV 
twin lead.(just tie on one lead, leaving the other open)."this antenna is 
called a ZEPP, after the kind of antenna's that was used on the blimps of 
old" On the other end you will hook to an antenna tuner, then to the 
SW(HF) radio.  Something for you to try, but to transmit, as Bob said, 
you will need to have a HAM there. It works VERY well, but the truth is, 
its a bit much to rig and a real mess if it comes down in the wrong 
place! I usually only use mine for demostrations now days.
Also, the US Military used box kites during WW11 for emergency radio 
transmisions. I still have one. It was called very loving as the "Gibson 
girl"!
I also use my kites for taking aerial photographs, so as you can see I 
like doing "things" with kites..

Have fun, but just keep thinking about the safty end. Wires, electric 
lines, kites, and people usually spell disater!

James

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