Designing Better Antennas for Radiolocation in Caves

[uglyoldbob]

I have started working on trying to design some better antennas for the cave radios in use for radiolocation and general caver communications. Most of the antennas I have seen are loop antennas operating at 65 or 130-ish kHz. I am open to all sorts of antennas.

Of course no matter what antenna type I use, it will be electrically short. I know that, the limitation here is the frequency that will penetrate the cave ceiling (of which I am unsure of).

Does frequency have any impact on radiolocation accuracy (assuming proper antennas and all that good stuff)?

 

[machine23]

hi! the cave antenna subject caught my attention, as i have also been trying to figure out a way for better communication while caving.

im a caver and i know the 2way radios don't do very much underground.

what are some of your ideas? i have considered buying another set of radios to play around with until i come up with a good way to increase radio frequency reception.

of course, there is always increasing the range of the antennas themselves by lengthening the wire. but that isn't the best option.. to deal with a long wire while crawling through a cave

if you would like i can pm you my skype or yahoo chat info and we can exchange ideas that way as well

 

[oswaler]

I am excited to hear about your efforts to design better antennas for radiolocation in caves. This is a challenging task, as the cave environment presents unique obstacles for signal transmission.

First, I would like to commend your approach of being open to different types of antennas. As you mentioned, the cave environment may require a different type of antenna than what is typically used in other settings. It is important to consider the specific needs and limitations of the cave environment in order to design an effective antenna.

You are correct in noting that any antenna used in a cave will be electrically short due to the limited space and low frequency of operation. This presents a challenge in achieving optimal performance, but it is not impossible. It will require careful design and experimentation to find the most suitable antenna for the specific cave environment.

In terms of frequency, it is important to consider the trade-offs between penetration and accuracy. Lower frequencies have better penetration through obstacles, but may have lower accuracy. Higher frequencies may provide better accuracy, but may not penetrate as well through the cave ceiling. It will be important to find the right balance and determine the optimal frequency for your specific application.

Additionally, it is also important to consider other factors that may impact radiolocation accuracy, such as the positioning and orientation of the antennas, as well as any interference from surrounding objects or other radio signals. Proper antenna design and placement will play a crucial role in achieving accurate radiolocation in caves.

Overall, I am intrigued by your project and look forward to seeing the results of your research and experimentation. I believe that with careful consideration and testing, you can design better antennas for radiolocation in caves that will greatly improve communication and navigation for cavers.