Topband: Deep earth rod vs radials

[Jim Brown]

On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 08:40:34 -0000, john wrote:

>Lets say I could go down 130ft would this elimnate the need for 
>radials I wonder .

NO!  The earth is lossy, and any current in it burns transmitter 
power. The purpose of radials is to PREVENT transmitter current from 
flowing in the earth, and to cause them instead to flow in the 
radials, which are copper and low loss. 

A connection to earth, no matter how good or deep, does not improve 
antenna performance! Now, sea water is a different story. :) 

73,

Jim Brown K9YC