On my QRZ page https://www.qrz.com/db/N7WS when referring to adding more radials
under my Inverted-L I mention using care since every bit of vegetation on my
property has thorns or burrs as can be seen in the photos.
I'm often bemused when I see pictures of a vertical with 100 radials neatly
staked out in perfect symmetry on a 40 acre lawn. Not so here. I started out in
a somewhat bare spot in a sandy wash and removed as little cactus and brush as
possible. Of course this really complicated the installation of radials.
So several years ago I developed what I've called the needle method, which Ian's
comment brought to mind and caused me to write this. What I use is a 20-foot
length of 3/8" rebar for the needle. It's long enough to get through a lot of
stuff but still limber enough to bend around minor obstructions. My insulated
radials are mostly on the surface but if the needle penetrates the ground or
cactus the wire follows. I use tie wraps to attach the wire, either to the
leading or trailing end as the situation requires. For the most part desert
plants give each other room so I can work around them even when it takes a
couple of passes to get a 50-60' radial laid out.
Wes N7WS
On 5/15/2018 12:08 AM, Ian White wrote:
Here in Scotland we're surrounded by mile upon mile of dry-stone
walls, so I know the problem!
Although no two walls are the same, my first choice would be to
probe the gaps between the large stones at the base of the wall
using the SDS hammer drill and a 3-foot drillbit. Don't try to drill
through any big boulders - just let the drillbit find a clear way
through, reasonably close to ground level.
Then tape the radial onto a large metal "needle" and thread it
through the hole.
If you can't find a way through the wall for every radial, group
neighboring radials together to pass through the wall and fan them
out again at the other side. Crimp connectors in heat-shrink
sleeving are your other best friend.
73 from Ian GM3SEK
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|