[TenTec] Radials

[Tony Martin W4FOA]

For those interested in reading a superb article on radial ground systems
for vertical antennas written by Al Christman, K3LC, check out the following
url:

http://www.ncjweb.com/k3lcmaxgainradials.pdf

Thanks to Al and NCJ for making such an informative study available.

73
Tony, W4FOA


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Detweiler" <rdetweil at hotmail.com>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 10:21 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Radials


> Lots of articles from near the beginning of radio on this subject.
>
> I've gotten along very well with 40 radials,  9 degrees apart.
>
> All laying at the ground level, not buried, but not raised,  ( use coat
> hanger staples and let the grass roots over take it )  This seems to be
the
> best level for ground mounted vertical on HF.  Buried actually detracts
some
> especially at 6 inches or more.
>
> Varying lengths as the fence cuts off some areas, no less than 15 feet and
> no more than the height of the vertical.
>
> This seems to be the balance of benefit to cost & work
>
> More radials does add some, but not enough to justify the cost & work,
>
> Longer radials does add some, but again not enough to justify the cost &
> work,
>
> If I'm only getting half a dB gain,  then it really isn't enough do
justify
> the work.
>
> I'd need to get 3 or more dB Gain to justify the work, For a vertical,
that
> would be these things.
>
>   1) A higher vertical would do allot, especially on 80 or 160.
>   2) Raising the vertical above ground as high as possible,  20 to 30
feet.
>   3) 4 or 8 half wave Raised radials ( now counterpoise ) sloping down
> slightly but at least 10 feet up.
>   4) a 4 sqaure phase vertical array,  using techniques 1,2,3 above.
>
> I'd do these as that would give many many dB Gain, but, it is impractical
at
> this QTH,
>
> Thus it's back to the basic issue,  dB Gain versus cost and space.
>
> for Gound mounted vertical,  If you have space,  more radials and longer
is
> better.  But at some point though, it's not gaining much and then you have
> to weigh how much is worth it for you.
>
> My 2 cents worth.
>
> 73's
> Rich
> K5SF
>
>
>
> >From: Ken Brown <ken.d.brown at verizon.net>
> >Reply-To: tentec at contesting.com
> >To: tentec at contesting.com
> >Subject: Re: [TenTec] Radials
> >Date: Tue, 08 Jun 2004 19:23:49 -1000
> >
> >>
> >>
> >>If I could double my signal, as inexpensively as burying 60 extra pieces
> >>of
> >>the old wire I have laying around, I would most certainly do it in a
> >>heartbeat.
> >>
> >>
> >If you've got the money and are willing to spend it paying a laborer to
> >bury that wire, then it may be "in a heartbeat". Otherwise, even with the
> >aid of power tools, it will be very many heartbeats and a lot of sweat.
And
> >that, along with the cost of the wire, is why people want to know is 30
> >quarter wavelenth radials better than 60 eighth wavelength ones (or some
> >other comparison  of equal materials and digging)
> >
> >DE N6KB
> >
> >
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>
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