As the number of radials increases from the basic 4 the wire gauge can be
reduced. With 16+ radials #18 is fine for RF current splitting and
longevity; I dont use bare wire for any radials which are elevated or buried
and on ground in the past.
Carl
KM1H
----- Original Message -----
From: "Herb Schoenbohm" <herbs@vitelcom.net>
To: <topband@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 3:46 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: Deployable radials for 80/160M
I found a great source for radial wire at home Depot where they have 100'
rolls of 14-2 packaged for under $40. Two conductors are insulated and one
of course is not after the easy job of striping them across a bench jig or
simple having a second person hold a pocket knife while you pull the
conductors apart you end up with 300 feet of higher quality ground radial
material. 2 each 100 foot insulated radials due to the VF are very close
to 1/4 wave consideration and the the shorter 100 foot bare doesn't hurt
either. This of course brings up the issue of mixing bare and insulated
wire in any ground system so I use the bare conductor for other 80 and 40
verticals. Yet the sum of the three wires is cheaper than buying them
individually it seems.
Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ
On 6/24/2014 2:57 PM, Jeff Woods via Topband wrote:
I've been doing the same thing with similar wire for several years. It
works. Some of my radials are even salvaged from Cat 5 cable - pretty
thin, but they do the job. I've found they are much more rugged when
deployed as twisted pairs though.
Lately, I've been supplementing the radials with rolls of 2 to 3 ft.
wide by 50 ft long chicken wire. The stuff is about $5 a roll at the
farm supply store. I'll be trying it out on 80m for field day next
weekend - just 6 to 8 rolls as a radial system for an HF6V multi-band
vertical. It deploys easily and rolls up quickly.
-Jeff / W0ODS
________________________________
From: rich kennedy via Topband <topband@contesting.com>
To: "topband@contesting.com" <topband@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2014 11:23 AM
Subject: Topband: Deployable radials for 80/160M
Hello, I'm now able to use a couple acre parcel for a new 80/160M shorty
vertical (80'); however, I can use this land only between Nov and May.
For radials I'm intending on using a #22 stranded hookup wire, 300v and
wondering if this particular wire would be suitable for spooling out the
~90 foot radials then respooling them up several months later. Expected
power = 1KW; Number of radial ~ 40. Any hints appreciated.
73, Rich, K3VAT
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