Topband: Elevated Radials

[ZR]

> Hi Guys,
>
> Forgive me, please, if I'm re-hashing a bit of the "...same-old, same-old" 
> here, but I am really curious as to any "real world" experiences that 
> might be out there in the matter of elevated radials, vs. those that are 
> simply laid atop the ground...
>
> My arthritic knees here are making the chore of rolling, & unrolling, my 
> seasonal 24-radials-per-"L"-element radials (I have THREE of them here!) 
> just that, i.e. a VERY painful chore...and barring the possibility of 
> there being a new "bionic" knee replacement(s) in my future, pray tell me:
>
> (A) Is it true that a couple of elevated radials are just as effective as 
> the "optimum" amount of buried ones...?


** Define "a couple". As Ive said on here umpteem times everyones 
soil/ground conditions are different. Im on a hilltop with solid granite no 
more than 2' down and mostly less than that, a couple defined as 2 wouldnt 
fly here very well.


>
> (B) What is the "ideal" number of elevated radials that one should use...?


**  When your antenna analyzer shows no change; in my case it was somewhere 
between 16 and 32 as I simply doubled them and there was no change in 2:1 
bandwidth or the impedance display.


>
> (C) How many elevated radials are "just enough"...?


** Same as B unless you dont mind seasonal changes or have great soil. I 
probably could have done OK with 8 but I believe my success was by paying 
attention to the details and not throwing away an unknown amount of power be 
it some fraction of a dB or not. Watching the bandwidth narrow is an eye 
opener.


>
> (D) How high should these radials be...?


**  So you can drive a fire truck or 18 wheeler under them if necessary 
otherwise 10-12' as a minimum.


>
> (E) Would it be a requirement that I raise the feedpoints of my "L's" to 
> the same height as the elevated radials, or can I simply leave the bases 
> where they are now (at ground level) & simply slant the radials upward 
> with no effect upon performance...?


**  Dont know. On mine I started at 10' and slanted to about 15' at a 45 
degree angle as per Christman and then ran thru branches in the 15-20' 
range.


>
> (F) Is it OK to bend the elevated radials to fit property allotments...?


** I did, the West antenna was about 60' from the property line.


>
> (G) What is the desirable length of an elevated radial...?


**  Resonant if only 2-4. Mine are approximately 130' of #16 insulated 
copper but since they all go thru branches that lowers the resonance; I 
didnt bother measuring it. Ive seen some suggest tying all the ends together 
into one big loop but havent seen any model to indicate it helps.




>
> (H) Should any existing connections to real earth at the base of the "L's" 
> (i.e. a ground pipe) be completed severed with a system of elevated 
> radials...?


**  Yes. It helps to have a close in ground screen but not connected. For 
lightning you can connect them and a couple of rods after the ferrite 
isolation choke but be sure you have sufficient isolation to not affect the 
antenna.


>
> This morning I happened to work a NJ station with elevated radials that 
> almost pegged the S-meter on my 751A---the short distance between us 
> notwithstanding, obviously something was working very well for him there!
>
> Thanks in advance & my vy
>
> ~73!~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ

** Ive been an elevated fan since 1990, sure beats running on the ground 
plus a screen and still not knowing if it really works as good as it could 
as I had prior to that about 5 miles away and 500' lower.

Carl
KM1H


>
>
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