Jim:
When you are burying radials for a vertical antenna, you do not need to
tune them. Just make them as long as you can (not to exceed 0.4 wavelengths)
and you are done. The 0.4 wavelength number comes from research done many
years ago and published in the Proceedings of the IRE. It shows that the
amount of radiation efficiency that you gain by going longer than 0.4
wavelengths is not worth the trouble.
If you can not get to 1/4 wavelength in some directions, add extra short
radials in that direction. Your radiation efficiency in those directions
will be lower so adding more radials will help to compensate for that.
The only time you need to tune a radial system is when it is elevated above
the ground.
Hope this helps.
73.................de Goose, W8AV
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160 meters is a serious band, it should be treated with respect. - TF4M
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