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Re: [TowerTalk] ground wire thoughts

To: jim@audiosystemsgroup.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] ground wire thoughts
From: w5jmw@towerfarm.net
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2020 16:21:41 -0600
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>

Jim,what about the crossing of the radials.Isn't doing that not recommended?Right now I can do either.I am confined to such a pattern due to me antenna placement.I have a overhead power run alomg my east fence and a metel fence along my west.I have already attached to both as a ground.really more of a lightning dispersal path.I might point out that I do have pretty good soil.I have very dense clay in certain at abt 3-4 foot.It does stop water sippage to a point.Also we have an aerobic septic system which the spray nozzles are located in thi same pasture...thank you,john





On 2020-12-24 13:52, Jim Brown wrote:
On 12/24/2020 1:56 AM, w5jmw@towerfarm.net wrote:
What I am wanting to do ie to run radials from corner to corner.That is to say from ne to sw and from nw to south east.Initially run these then go from side to side.The radials will be jouned in the middla by a split bolt to a ground rod....I plan on using the radial for all the antennas if possible.My question...First Can I do this ?





The short answer is that this is a very bad idea. The earth is a big
resistor, and if the antenna sees it, it burns a lot of the
transmitter power. Radials or a counterpoise provide a low resistance
return path for the antenna current; radials, in addition, shield the
antenna's field from the lossy earth.

An antenna's field surrounds it on all sides, and for radials to be
effective, they must extend out from the base, and be connected to the
coax shield. An earth connection (ground rod) does NOT make a transmit
antenna work better unless it's to an expanse of salt water.

Radial systems work best if they are symmetrical and dense, but if
available real estate and antenna locations prevent that, the best
layout for on-ground radials is to run as many as you can in as many
directions as you can. There is no need for on-ground radials to be of
equal length. There are many practical ideas about this in a tutorial
talk I've done at ham conventions and club meetings. Slides are here.
No original work by me, but a collection of great work by others.

http://k9yc.com/160MPacificon.pdf

73, Jim K9YC
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