Topband: Elevated Radials

[Joe L Blackwell]

Hi gang,
This current subject about elevated radials is hitting home with
me as I have considered doing the same thing.  My small QTH
of 0.6 acres on Lake Wylie, SC, affords me precious room for
laying radials on the ground during 160 season, having to take
them all up in the spring.  Even then, I am only able to cover about
3/4 of the ground under the Inv L because the house is in the way.
My neighbor cooperates by letting me put radials in his yard.  In
addition, the Inv L for about 90 degrees is just 60 feet from the lake
such that I must fold back the ends of the 130 foot radials in that
same direction which from my QTH is due North around to about
90 degrees due East.  No doubt many a 160 nut suffers constraints.

Even elevated, using a minimum of 4 radials, there would be two
of those radials folded at a 90 degree angle, which I am guessing
is no big deal.  My reluctance to change my configuration is in not
knowing how well a 1/4 wave antenna with elevated radials at 15
feet would compare to the 3/8 wave Inv L having radials on the ground.
In 160 contests I've been told my 3/8 Inv L is loud.  I would hate to
lose that.  I don't mind laying the radials in the fall because of the
anticipation of getting out on 160, but taking them up in the spring is
a bitch, if you know what I mean.

My 3/8 wave inverted L is 80 feet vertical in a 4-wire cage with a single
wire for the 110 foot horizontal section.  Elevating a 1/4 wave to 15
feet
shortens the vertical section.  Maybe I shouldn't worry about the short
height, but I do worry about it.  At least, the max current would be at
the
15 foot level where with the 3/8 wave Inv L the max is at about 60 feet.

If there are any of you out there who could enlighten me, I would
appreciate
the encouragement to change the current 160m configuration at aa4nn.

73, de Joe Blackwell, aa4nn


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