TopBand: radial debate add-ons

Peter n8yel@k8daa.ampr.org
Mon, 29 Dec 97 20:59:14 -0500


Being new to 160 (I hope to work many of you!) I have put up for my first
antenna a inverted L...well, a sort of lazy one.  The vertical portion
goes up approx 38 feet, the remainder of the wire which would be considered
the horizontal portion, goes south,southwest to a point approx 100 feet back
and 25 feet off the ground.  The whole antenna length is approx 1/4 wave length
an probably has no appreciable gain.  The antenna is being fed with coax of
which the shield is connected to only a ground rod.

I have a high water table in my back yard.  The water is what one would call
"rusty water" of the non-drinkable type.  It seems to have a very high iron
content as when it is pumped from the ground and poured upon the pavement
it leaves a rust stain on the pavement after evaporation.

My question is this, Since I have no radials on my antenna system, and I
have a very broarbanded low SWR will radials "enhance" or improve the
performance of said antenna?  

P.S. the water is only 2 feet below the grass.

Any advice or observations would be appreciated!

Best regards everyone who reads this!

Peter Venlet, N8YEL
n8yel@k8daa.ampr.org



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