Topband: Question - optimum number of radials

[Carl]

While Tom touched on the subject yesterday the subject of an individuals 
ground conductivity has to be stressed, continuously it seems. The FCC maps 
arent perfect and hams usually dont have the options of perfect siting for 
their verticals as do many of the BC stations.

Home developers often remove all of the good topsoil and sell it. They back 
fill with rocky sand and whatever else is cheap or worthless and finish with 
a skimcoat of real topsoil just thick enough to grow grass.

My own attempt with 60-65 quarter wave radials 30 years ago at another home 
were dismal since the "ground" was pure sand left behind by the glaciers 
with a fresh water table about 4' down. Great for mixing concrete and 
drainage only.
After I installed a 2X4" fence mesh around the base and out 50' could I 
reliably work DX.

Going to elevated radials here on a granite hill in the same town saved a 
lot of work and works very well.

Carl
KM1H