We used to use two 100' by 4' rolls of galvanized chicken wire laid out in a +
pattern for a Field Day Vertical. It worked well but was not permanent. We
attached the wires to the ground lug of the antenna with split-bolts and short
pieces of 12 Ga solid wire. We held the chicken wire down with plastic tent
pegs.
How long it lasts in a permanent installation will depend on the acidity of the
soil. The higher the acidity, the faster the Zinc will go away and once it is
gone the steel will be shortly behind.
Clint - W5CPT
----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Giacobello
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 4:06 PM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Chicken Wire Ground Screen
I know that there are several folks out there who are using chicken wire
ground screens in addition to radials for their verticals. I'm curious
to know if the various sections of chicken wire are (1) soldered to one
another and (2) to the radial system? I'd guess if the chicken wire
sections were overlapped at their edges, there would be a high
probability of their making contact somewhere along their length so that
soldering wouldn't be unnecessary. No?
I presume that the lifetime on the ground for the chicken wire is
relatively short? Two-three years? OTOH, wouldn't the remnants of the
wire and its degradation products enhance the conductivity of the soil
surrounding the antenna so that the remaining radials are now more
effective?
Just curious to know what your collective experiences and thoughts are
on this subject.
Thanks for your input.
73, Joe
K2XX
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