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Re: [TowerTalk] Ground Radials Insulated or Not

To: "(Reflector) TowerTalk" <towertalk@contesting.com>,"Chuck" <wcmoore@verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Ground Radials Insulated or Not
From: "Jerry Keller" <k3bz@arrl.net>
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2004 08:09:41 -0500
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Chuck...I don't think it really matters whether you use insulated or bare wire for your radials. Also, I think very light wire is OK even with high power.

I happened to spot a spool of #24 bare copper wire at my local metals salvage yard and picked it up for the pound price of copper... think I paid $25 for it. It must contain literally miles of wire. I built a frame for the spool to sit in and I can just grab the wire and walk out whatever length, wrap the end a few times around a 10 penny nail, and stick the nail in the ground... I push it beneath the surface with a small metal rod. I then go back to the antenna base end of the wire and do the same thing there with another 10 penny nail. It's plenty strong... haven't had a break yet. The wire sits on top of the lawn, drawn tight, and I've "stapled" each radial down every few feet with pieces of galvanized wire bent into a hairpin shape. Over the winter, I expect the wire will gravitate down into the lawn thatch and virtually disappear. Hope this gives you some practical and economical ideas.

73, Jerry K3BZ

----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck" <wcmoore@verizon.net>
To: "Towertalk" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, December 06, 2004 7:31 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Ground Radials Insulated or Not



I think the article by K3LC answers my question about the best number of radials for the installation in my particular application. The nest question I have is what benefit if any is there to using bare wire as opposed to insulated wire in the radial system.

When I go to the local houses to buy wire it is cheaper to buy 12 or 14 guage spooled insulated wire rather then bare wire. When I look at ordering it online buying locally is more attractive from a cost point since shipping has thus far made online orders significantly more expensive then local purchases.

Does direct earth contact buy anything as opposed to insulated radials with respect to use as the rf ground?

Chuck WD4HXG

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_______________________________________________

See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.

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