Topband: Elevated Radials

[Tom W8JI]

>
> 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...
>
> (A) Is it true that a couple of elevated radials are just as effective as 
> the "optimum" amount of buried ones...?

Probably not a "couple", but almost certainly in small systems a few 
elevated radials are better than the same number of buried radials.

Everyone would like this to be a "cookie cutter" answer, but the actual 
results depend heavily on the soil and installation. Even N6LF warns over 
and over that his data only applies for conditions like his.

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

As many as you can. More never hurts the signal, it just is more work.

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

It depends on the soil, the height, the antenna, and what you want.

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

It depends on the antenna, soil, and installation. Radial height takes away 
from the effective antenna height. Certainly the safest thing is about .05 
WL , unless the antenna is really short and that takes away significant 
radiator height.


> (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...?
>

It probably doesn't make much difference.


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

It depends on where they are bent. The best practice is straight and 
symmetrical.


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

1/4 wave resonant length.

> (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...?

If the resonant radials are grounded to an earth ground, the system will 
lose efficiency. This much is always the case.

Pick the particular story you like Eddy, that's what most people do.  :) 
Read the fine print though. N6LF, whose study is one of the most 
comprehensive is a good source for that particular test condition. Most 
people seem to miss this:

http://www.antennasbyn6lf.com/2012/02/elevated-radial-ground-systems-some-cautions.html

What he writes isn't often what people actually paraphrase.

73 Tom