Topband: Radials help

[Dennis OConnor]

 There are definitive studies which show that for a few radials making them long does not do as much as making them half as long and doubling the number... i.e. twice the number of radials for the same total wire length improves your far field strength......
I know it seems counter intuitive, but physics often is...

You need a dense mat close in at the feed point to gather the return currents so for the first 30 radials 1/8 wave is sufficient...  Once you hit the 30 radial mark, then you can go back and start adding longer radials in-between the short radials you started with...  Then if you get sufficient radials down, 60+,  there will be a further, but small, increase in efficiency by adding on to the end of the shorter radials...  
There is no need in a ham antenna installation for all the radials to be the same length...  And you can spread the installation out over time...  Your first 30 short radials will be the most bang for your buck... Also, there is nothing magical about 1/4 or 1/2 wave for radials... As soon as you lay a reasonant length of wire on the ground it is no longer resonant at the frequency you thought it was... 

Read the writings of Rudy, N6LP and you will be well ahead of the game...
http://www.antennasbyn6lf.com/



denny / k8do