When I put my ground system in for my 160 base insulated vertical, I
entertained the idea of using an edger to slit the ground. However, I could
not
justify the cost of one powerful enough that would do the job and would be
used only a few times.
My method was a bit more labor intensive but worked well. I purchased a
flat blade shovel, one with a straight blade. You can find them at most
garden or farm supply stores. I used the shovel to slit the ground at an
angle to cut the sod. I then peeled back the sod, inserted the ground radial
so that it was maybe 2-3 inches below the surface, rolled the sod back over
the radial and packed it down with my lawn tractor. It took a couple
weekends to install 120 quarter wave radials but they have never come up out
of
the ground.
Incidentally, I used #10 soft drawn bare copper wire for the my ground
system. I could easily obtain it from work (we designed and installed AM
broadcast antennas), it won't break during normal freezing and thawing, and it
lasts for at least 40 years. When I built my 80 meter triangle vertical
array, which is supported by ropes tied to the 160 tower, I put the ground
system for the 80 meter array (made of the same wire) on top of the 160
ground system and bonded the radials together where they intersected. So
essentially I have a mesh of copper under both antenna systems.
One final; thing to remember, when you bond copper radials together at the
base of the antenna, use silver solder rather than the ten-lead stuff we
use for normal soldering. Although you will need a MAPP gas torch to melt
the silver solder, the joint won't corrode when exposed to mother nature like
regular solder does.
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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