Topband: insulated vs:bare radial wires

[Gene Smar]

Herb :

     I'm not sure you'd ever be able to prove effectiveness one way or 
another (to ground or not to ground the radials' far ends.)  When I 
installed my radials in 1998, I used large nails to hold them into the 
ground as you did, but did not connect them electrically to the radial 
wires.  My thoughts were that the nails or even short rods weren't long 
enough to be effective in gathering up RF currents that might have 
penetrated (skin depth, ya know) the earth, so I just ran the wires where I 
could and cut them off.

     Anyone with BCB engineering experience out there who can answer 
authoritatively?


73 de
Gene Smar  AD3F


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Herb Schoenbohm" <herbs at surfvi.com>
To: "Gene Smar" <ersmar at verizon.net>
Cc: "topband reflector" <topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 1:10 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: insulated vs:bare radial wires



>>

> I use insulated wire radials which after a few months disappear into the 
> grass....I tack down the wires with large spikes along the way with a 
> single turn of the insulated wire. Yet  I have always wondered if there is 
> any benefit in making an actual earth connection to the end of the radial 
> with a short rod (whatever the radial length  may be) or should that be 
> avoided with ROG installations as it would seem to mitigate the capacitor 
> effect.  But if we are talking about current distribution would not 
> earthing the ends be a benefit?
>
> Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ
>