Topband: Ground Radials Yet Again

[Ed Swynar]

An interesting --- and very easy to overlook! --- reference in ON4UN's latest lowband bible in the matter of ground radials...

Specifically, wire laid atop the ground may be considered to have a velocity factor of 50%...which means, of course, that any 1/4-wave (physically long) radials that I meticulously laid-out beneath my inverted "L" last year were, in fact, 1/2-wave (electrically long) radials...

This year I'm going to snip these wires in half: that should both minimize my physical "footprint" (shorter tentacles!), while maximizing my "...electrical print" (effectively doubling the number of radial wires) beneath the antenna. I've been running some primary tests with one "L" here already, using nothing but 1/8-wave (phyically long) radials atop the grass --- and the results have been most encouraging.

Has anyone else ever run a full season on the band with such "shortened" radials...? I think it might improve things considerably here in my situation...anxious to get started, too, especially after learning that Buffalo --- a mere 70 miles south of me --- has already received a 15-inch "windfall" of protective white stuff!

~73~ Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ