Topband: Recent 160m Antenna Questions

[John Bastin]

On Nov 27, 2007, at 03:58 , Dave Court wrote:

> Yes I agree, however radials previously were about 6 laying on the
> ground. These had to be removed in summer for grass cutting

This isn't necessary.

I have a helically-wound vertical surrounded by 54 radials that  
started out lying on the ground. Over time, they work down in the  
grass and most of them aren't even visible any more except where they  
connect to the plate at the base of the vertical. I just mow over  
them, and have since they were first laid.

I use "bobby-pins" every few feet along their length to keep them  
down and avoid tripping over them and pulling them up before they  
disappear. I used to make the bobby-pins from electric fence wire,  
approximately 6-inch lengths bent in half and pressed into the ground  
over the radial wire. When I laid the last batch this summer I used 6- 
inch pieces of Copperweld bent in half for the same purpose.

Putting them down and taking them up every year just to cut the grass  
is a whole lot of work and a lot of time taken from other antenna  
projects. Put them down once and forget them.

Hope this helps.

73,


John Bastin, K8AJS
bastinj at gmail.com