• Use separate ground rods, as sharing can cause signal coupling through the connection.

• Keep the Beverage ends away from towers. Even if the tower is not being used as a transmit vertical it can re-radiate signals.

• Maintain a reasonable constant height above ground except at the ends that may be tapered to ground level. Follow the general contour of the earth, but not every small dip or bump.

• If the Beverage is being used as a single direction terminated antenna, the termination resistance is controlled more by ground conductivity, than wire height. A poor conductivity earth termination would typically be 350 ohms or lower. A high conductivity earth termination would typically be 450 ohms or higher.

• When choosing a termination resistance, avoid the one that gives the minimum VSWR on the band of interest, rather choose the resistance that gives the lowest VSWR over a wide frequency range with a slow increase at the highest frequency end. You may end up with a 1.8:1 VSWR, but you will have found the characteristic impedance of the wire resulting in the best antenna front to back ratio.

• When obtaining a Beverage antenna transformer, check the earth conductivity value published for your area. Use a 450 ohm transformer for a high conductivity location. Use a 330/350 ohm transformer for a low conductivity location. Matching to the transformer will increase the signal to your radio, but will not change the antenna pattern.

• Beverage antennas want to work. Run a straight line if possible. If a straight run can not be maintained, good results can be obtained even with bends and angles.

• Beverage antennas are low impedance, low Q devices, and do not couple well. Beverage runs can cross each other if somewhat more than a few feet of clearance is allowed.

• Radial fields radiate energy from the connected vertical. Best NOT to run a receive antenna, or receive coax across.

• Take care not to transmit into a Beverage antenna with standard transformers. If transmit is desired, an antenna tuner can be used in place of the Beverage transformer. A much stronger termination resistor is needed. (Beverage antennas have negative gains)

Two wire Beverage notes

• When using individual wires, maintain the spacing between the two wires. This will help the front to side signal ratio to be near optimum.
• Slope the wires down to ground at both ends.This idea is not original. I read it in one of the "Low Band DXing" books by ON4UN. Over a number of years I tried this at my locations, and at a friends QTH.We found the slope did not change low angle vertical signals compared to a straight drop. We did find that high angle signals were reduced, with longer 3/8 wave slopes.
• In Northern climates, use a long ground rod as winter time frozen earth does not conduct well. If it is not possible to drive the rod all the way in, avoid leaving a large amount above the ground as this may pick up signals which are not wanted.
• The coax outer shield can pick up signals and compromise the front to back. It is good to have the last 60 or more feet of coax buried near the KB-2 box. This avoids pick up and the capacitance to ground will have a beneficial effect. Coax laying on the ground is usually OK. In cases where the coax is above ground, an effort should be taken to remove common mode signal pick up. I use ferrite cores over the coax near the KB-2 Box. Clamp on core halves are often available as surplus, or used at hamfests for bargain prices.
• Standard (best) lengths for Beverages from the tables available are 290, 440, 600, 800 feet etc. covered wires may reduce noise in areas where rain or snow static are a problem. For those using individual wires one of the better wire coverings is THHN. This covering is tough, thin and light. Covered wire can cause a slowing of radio waves (velocity factor) I cut a Beverage for the 80-meter dx SSB band.Due to the velocity factor it was optimum in the CW band. It works so well over the entire band that I never changed it.
• In a high traffic area, 9 feet above the ground is the best compromise height. (Crossing roadways not included)
• Europeans, especially SM and LA stations are experimenting with 2 and 3 feet above ground Beverage antennas. They have purchased my custom wound transformers for near ground and BOG Beverages. Some have used field telephone wire with good results.
• Tried a close to the ground Beverage antenna with a preamplifier in an out of the way area. The pattern and signal to noise ratio is excellent. Used Roundup to remove vegetation from the Beverage run with good results. Deer collisions ceased to be a problem. QRN sometimes noted in solar storms is often less than with other taller Beverage antennas. At 2 feet above ground and higher found a pre-amplifier to be unnecessary
• Much of the expense of a two wire Beverage is the cost of the wire, and upkeep. 450 ohm cable expense is high, and breakage repair is difficult. WD-1 wire is inexpensive, but repair is difficult. Both types can deteriorate if water penetrates the insulation. Electric fence wire spaced about 6-10 inches (depending upon wire size) has an impedance about 600 ohms, and is available for about $22.00 for 1/4 mile at farm supply stores. It splices easliy, and can be soldered with a torch. The economy route using electric fence wire has an extra benefit. As noted in "Low Band DXing", early two wire Beverage antennas, often, at the far end, had one wire insulated and one grounded. Close spaced wires gave less signal and front to back ratio than wider spaced Beverage wires that gave good results without a refelection transformer.

BOG Transformers are available in KB-1, KB-2 and KB-3 versions.

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Questions?, emailk1fz@MyFairPoint.net

73
Bruce