Rope antenna

[marcot]

My ssb antenna is a simple wire from mast top to deck, 10cm off the backstay.
Is it dangerous when transmitting? Ssb is an Icom m710 150watt output

 

[30boat]

Only if you touch it while transmitting,I think.I also think that it's not good to have another wire paralel to it too close.

 

[lw395]

My ssb antenna is a simple wire from mast top to deck, 10cm off the backstay.
Is it dangerous when transmitting? Ssb is an Icom m710 150watt output

Yes.
It can also induce a lot of current in rigging, or guard rail wires, sometimes causing arcing or pitting at fittings.

It's not going to strike you down with a thunderbolt, but best not to get near it... much less touch it.

 

[marcot]

Ok. And if I use a shielded wire?

 

[wot]

Ok. And if I use a shielded wire?

Yoou will no doubt improve the safey aspect but reduce your range to somewhat approaching hailing distance due to the inability of the emissions to escape from the shielding. Defeats the purpose of a HF set I suppose

 

[SimonJ]

My ssb antenna is a simple wire from mast top to deck, 10cm off the backstay.
Is it dangerous when transmitting? Ssb is an Icom m710 150watt output

You have used the term "rope antenna" which is something more refined. Google it and you will find a commercial supplier. I have made my own and find them safe. This type of antenna is very efficient. Basically, sheathed copper wire - marine type, tinned - pulled through a polyester rope from which the core has been removed. This makes an aerial much more efficient and cheaper than using a back stay. It also avoids potentially reducing the integrity of a back stay as insulators do not have to be used. Aerial can be connected directing to aerial tuner further improving efficiency.

 

[William_H]

You have used the term "rope antenna" which is something more refined. Google it and you will find a commercial supplier. I have made my own and find them safe. This type of antenna is very efficient. Basically, sheathed copper wire - marine type, tinned - pulled through a polyester rope from which the core has been removed. This makes an aerial much more efficient and cheaper than using a back stay. It also avoids potentially reducing the integrity of a back stay as insulators do not have to be used. Aerial can be connected directing to aerial tuner further improving efficiency.

Why would your rope antenna be more efficient than a backstay? I think not.
An antenna is just a piece of wire. For a yacht it is the wires and structure around it that can affect the radiation mostly in a bad way. The use of the insulated backstay is a best option given that the mast and side stays are well removed from the radiating wire. The other option is a whip antenna mounted on the transom and angled back away from the backstay.

Regarding Rf burns these come from touching the radiating wire. So insulation will protect people from burns. I am not aware of induced current in rigging obviously possible especially in a wire parallel to rigging. Just don't touch the rigging when transmitting seems the only solution.
As a lad I worked at a broadcasting transmitter site. We used a bicycle to ride to the antenna tuner hut quite some distance from the transmitter. We naturally leaned the bike against the hut wall. However we quickly found you could draw a small arc from your hand to the bike handlebars. Or indeed draw an arc from your finger to another persons sensitive skin like back of neck. Indeed when it rained and water dripped from the down pipe you could hear the program in the arcing through the water drops. Now all this was when very close to the antenna base of 50kilowatts at 690khz and 20kws at 720khz.
So your 200 watts peak of SSB should not be so much of a danger.
But yes OP should consider whip antenna (excelent when mast falls over) or insulated backstay. olewill