Topband: Question - optimum number of radials

[Bill Cromwell]

On 02/14/2014 09:15 AM, Charlie Cunningham wrote:
> That's a lot of good information, Richard! Thanks for sharing!
>
> 73,
> Charlie, K4OTV
>
>
The whole topic of radials as it applies to me on my small lot is "put 
in as many as you can". The same probably applies to others on small 
lots. On top band I do not have room in *any* direction for a quarter 
wavelength radial..not even one. In some directions a quarter wavelength 
radial wire might be bent to fit but that begins the many compromises. 
Obviously that setup would have the antenna in one corner of the lot so 
there would be no radials at all in one or two directions. So.. no 
quarter wave radials at all. I have been buying small spools of wire and 
will be adding them to whatever puny little radial field I DO have.

As soon as the ice and snow is gone (maybe in June?) I will be elevating 
my wire antenna the rest of the way to the treetops and adding in the 
radial wires. In the process of elevating the antenna I will learn to be 
ace with a rod n reel <grin>. The whole point of that exercise is to 
*miss* the tree and go over the top. So far I've only ever tried to 
*hit* a spot out on the water. It's not hard to hit the water <wink>. I 
didn't do too badly finding a particular spot on the water with the 
bait. But the tree top is not "over" there. It's "up" there.

73,

Bill  KU8H