Topband: 1000m of radials (3280ft), how should I cut it ?

[Jim Brown]

On Sun, 21 Jan 2007 16:47:09 +0000 (GMT), Ffive VHN wrote:

>3280ft of wire to be used for radials.

The definitive treatment of this is by Rudy Severns, N6LF. He 
answers EXACTLY your question. It is now part of the ARRL Antenna 
Book, and this section alone is worth the price of that book plus 
whatever it costs to get it shipped to you. Make sure that you get 
the latest (20th) edition. It is not in the earlier versions. 

The short answer is that radials in or on the ground do not need to 
be resonant, and a radial system with more short radials is better 
that one with a few long ones. For the quantity of wire you have 
available, 40 radials about 85-90 ft long would be a good way to use 
the wire. If you want to know more (and you should), get the book. 

73,

Jim Brown K9YC