All, I constructed my first 160 Meter Ground Plane here in late 1995. Insulated base 1/8 WL AGL and a full 1/4 WL above that. From the base, extending outward and slightly downward to the top of 55 f
First, thanks to all who responded via the list and off list about whether adding groundradials would help with 3 elevated radials. The consensus was adding groundradials under elevated radials was
And then described his efforts in balancing current between the radials. I have been thinking about adding common loading coil to elevated radials here (from ON4UN book, refers to K5UL I think) in or
Thanks to all who contributed. W8UVZ gave me an idea that let me proceed with testing. George said " why don't you pull the far end of each radial back to the center, and connect it, thus making it a
Fred: I agree with Phil. It sounds like you need more staples closer together. I made my own staples (for half a mile of radial wire) out of wire shirt hangers from the dry cleaners. I did the same t
Hi All, I wonder if someone would be kind enough to guide me through a few questions before I continue with this new project?.... Background: I've just about completed a new "three in line" 160M vert
To: <topband@contesting.com> To: <topband@contesting.com> I had just read posts to this reflector stating the following (from two different posts, I believe): 1. EZNEC had a patch that made it simil
Joe My personal experience is that the elevated radials are the equal of a ton of buried copper and deserve serious consideration. As you point out, in bang for the buck terms, a few elevated radials
I have wire 4-squares on 80, 40 & 20. A 2-el on 160m <currently just 1-el> and a VDA looking 4-square on 15m. (still looking for a 10m 4-sq Comtek system someone might have collecting dust) My 80m an
Do more radials on a 160m vertical bring more improvements than shown by simulation? Most simulations, e.g. by EZNEC, show that going above 32 radials on 160m brings minimal improvement, say 1 db to
Author: Dennis OConnor via Topband <topband@contesting.com>
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2020 12:29:16 +0000 (UTC)
I had an 80 meter two element parasitic vertical beam array with elevated radials. The radials were roughly 8 to 10 feet in the air and 8 radials per vertical. They were suspended through the woods
Hi Bob, While bonding the radials is desirable, its not essential. But you must NOT cross the radials over each other. The radials of a multi-element vertical array are usually bonded to a common wir
"Sooner or later everything old is new again" (Stephen King) February 1922 QST page 30 The 1BCG antenna used for the transatlantic tests was a T cage over a radial counterpoise. The antenna is hung b
Yes. One of the key factors is the height of the radials. N6BT, who has done a LOT of work with elevated radials on topband, told me that 18 ft is a minimum height. After my first tower (120 ft) was
Pete and all: A couple years after the original article, I began recommending adding 4 or 8 radials if the ground rod alone did not provide a good pattern. The radials need to extend a bit beyond the
We just went through the exercise of tuning up the elevated radials on the KC1XX 160m vertical array in advance of the upcoming CQWW DX Contests. The first thing is to make each of the radials look a
Hi James, The vertical really needs to come down directly to the central common point of the radial field for them to operate with all the advantages. Running a single wire from the base of the verti
In AM broadcast practice, I'll use 15% brazzing rods and a Oxy-MAPP torch. Some of my older stations have Cu strap in the dirt that is THICK, takes a lot of heat to flow on it. I've melted in two som
Matt, MAPP gas and a small torch doesn't pose much of a threat to pure copper. I've never had an issue, and I am not particularly skilled. A few asked me about sources for Stay-Silv 15. Here is one e
All this talk of radials makes me wonder about my radial field.... The area that the radials live in has been burned in a backfire. It has a wide variety of wire in it, mostly stranded copper. I'm su