Topband: Grounding the ends of radials

[Charlie Cunningham]

I generally agree with you, Bob - especially with regard to not grounding
the far ends of 1/4 wave radials!!  After all what we are trying to
establish is a low-impedance "image plane" for the vertical radiator to be
fed against! A 1/4 wave wire, grounded at the far end would have a high
impedance to ground at the base, or feed-point, of the antenna!  Makes no
sense! Would not result in a very favorable "driving-point impedance!

73,
Charlie, K4OTV


-----Original Message-----
From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bob
Eldridge
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 3:46 PM
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Topband: Grounding the ends of radials

>I posted this on TowerTalk and I got a couple of responses as to why 
>the  ends of ground radials should not be grounded.
  Isn't it dependent on whether you want the radials resonant or not?  And
if you do want them resonant, on the length of the radial?
  It doesn't make sense to ground the far end of a quarter wave radial if
you want a low impedance at the base of the antenna.  It does make sense if
you have short radials and want to intercept the "return current".
Bob VE7BS 

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