Speedskater
Major Contributor
Yes there are good reasons why some vertical antennas use Planet Earth as part of the antenna and there are good reasons why other vertical antennas use an insulated counterpoise instead. Basically Planet Earth only helps the near signal (well less than 50 miles).Salty soil absolutely reduces impedance from buried grand planes to soil for half-wave vertical quarter-wave dipole antennas such as those used by AM radio stations. This is not snake oil at all.