The following discussion about the KISS-SSB marine counterpoise system was posted in the SSCA website forums. With the decline of that site it may eventually vanish along with this valuable information. John MacDougall, KA4WJA concludes that random lengths of wire cut near the operating frequency can be used to the same effect as the KISS-SSB. John presents graphic displays of his analysis which confirms the KISS-SSB and random wires are about the same. Performance will be the judge and you the cruiser will be the witness. Many cruiser use the KISS-SSB and report extremely positive results. Their reviews are available by doing a search on the KISS-SSB. This document/web-page is in no way saying that the KISS-SSB is not a good product. It is, however, a means for sailors/cruisers who wish to provide their own (DIY) counterpoise. I also invite you to read Gordon West's fine paper on "Seawater Grounding For HF Radios". Good luck, good sailing, and... May your seas be calm and the wind always on your starboard beam! KF6BL, S/V Takara |
KISS-SSB graphic display of frequency and return loss. |
Random wires graphic display of frequency and return loss. |
KISS-SSB Counterpoise I've received some e-mails from a few of you, thanking me and asking for some clarifications.... And when using a backstay, whip, etc. (or any kind of vertical monopole on-board), if we can use the sea water around us (although certainly not "tuned" and lossier than copper), as our "symmetrical" radial array / counterpoise, we can achieve very good results with low angles of radiation from our vertical monopoles.... Although back-in-the-day some semblance of resonance could be seen on older GDO / GDM (Grid-Drip-Meter), we knew that the lack of sharp nulls meant a poor match, etc... (and even deflections on "antenna analyzers" these days can be very misleading!!!) Notwithstanding that many amateur radio vertical antenna manufactures (Hustler, Bencher, etc.) have been selling "tuned radial kits" for their multi-band verticals, for many, many years....the facts are that these multi-conductor wires and/or ribbon wires do NOT represent good resonances at all....and while their use is "convenient", they are NOT any more effective than random lengths of wire strung out as elevated "radials".... Please understand again, that I'm not saying that radials don't work, but rather that the MYTHS of "multi-band tuned radials" being easy-to-design and build...and that just one per band, etc. is all you need, should be dispelled for good!!! 3) So, with the above accepted, below are some traces that I think will help clarify things... I grabbed some wire...and cut a few lengths.. [Please note that the exact res freqs are affected by these wires' close proximity to grd...just like they'd be on a sailboat...] --- one at about 17.5' - 18' long...(which surprisingly made a nice 12mhz radial, just by chance!) --- one to 16.2' (to approximate a 14mhz 1/4-wave radial) --- one to 33.5' (to approximate a 7mhz 1/4-wave radial) --- and then I cut two at random (that ended up being 14' and 16' each) I strung them up, one at a time, sloping from 3' to 9', above the grass....and swept them... I also swept them when laying on the ground.... And, also connected them together (keeping them separate), and swept them while in the air and on the ground... And finally, connected together, in a couple bundles, one bundle, and folded back onto each other (like the KISS-SSB-Ground), and swept them... The results are not surprising to me, but some of you may find them interesting..... {Spoiler alert....a group of random wires, works as well or better than the KISS...} |
Graphical analysis between random wires or wires cut close to frequency, and the KISS-SSB counterpoise, in different locations, environments and configurations.Note: John is using a RIGOL SWR Analyzer for his testing. |
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a) First up is my ~ 17.5' - 18' long wire, strung in the air (which I "measured", by just using 3 fingertip-to-fingertip lengths)... |
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b) Next is the 16' wire, strung in the air... |
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c) The 33' 6" wire, strung in the air... |
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d) The two "random length" wires (which happened to be 14' and 16'), strung in the air... |
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e) The two random wires, stretched out, laying on the ground/grass.... |
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f) The two random wires, laying on the ground, in one big bundle.... |
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g) Combining the random wires [14’ and 16’] with the 33' 6" wire, strung in the air... |
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h) The random wires [14’ and 16’] with the 33' 6" wire, laying on the ground.... |
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i) The 33' 6" wire combined with the 16' wire, strung in the air... |
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j) All four wires (33'6", 17.5~18', and the two random wires[14’ and 16’]), strung in the air... |
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And, another look at the trace of the KISS-SSB, strung in the air.... |
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k) All four wires, stretched out, laying on the ground |
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l) All for wires, laying on the ground, in two bundles... |
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m) All four wires, laying on the ground, in one big bundle.... |
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n) All four wires, laying on the ground, folded back onto each other in one 14' long group.... |
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And, another look at the trace of the KISS-SSB, stretched out on the ground |
John has now moved to his boat for additional testing. Note the significant difference between the counterpoise being located on the ground and over seawater. |
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o) The KISS in my lazarette, first stretched out in a long "U" shape |
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...and in one large coil... |
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p) All four of my home-made wires (33', 16', 14' and 17'), in my lazarette....stretched out as best as possible, |
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scattered about a bit |
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and in one bundle.... |
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q) And, finally all 4 wires scattered about, along with the KISS stretched out, in the lazarette... |
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r) And a couple photos of the inside of the KISS, thanks to Chip (SoonerSailor on cruisersforum.com)... |
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http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f13/the-kiss-ssb-counterpoise-revealed-with-pics-56551.html |
4) Again, not trying to write a book here on antenna counterpoises, etc...and not wishing to denounce the KISS-SSB-Ground as snake oil....bur rather I thought I could put some facts out there for all to see....and let you all make up your own minds.... (see my comment above regarding the Gordon West paper on seawater grounding) |
Information on this page is for personal use only. The contents and photo, charts, and spreadsheets are the property of John MacDougall, KA4WJA and cannot be used without his written permission. This page may not be duplicated, but may be linked to. When linking, please give credit to both John MacDougall, KA4WJA and Brian Donaldson, KF6BL. This page last updated on August 24, 2018 |