Topband: Deployable radials for 80/160M

[Carl]

As the number of radials increases from the basic 4 the wire gauge can be 
reduced. With 16+ radials #18 is fine for RF current splitting and 
longevity; I dont use bare wire for any radials which are elevated or buried 
and on ground in the past.

Carl
KM1H


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Herb Schoenbohm" <herbs at vitelcom.net>
To: <topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 3:46 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: Deployable radials for 80/160M


>I found a great source for radial wire at home Depot where they have 100' 
>rolls of 14-2 packaged for under $40.  Two conductors are insulated and one 
>of course is not after the easy job of striping them across a bench jig or 
>simple having a second person hold a pocket knife while you pull the 
>conductors apart you end up with 300 feet of higher quality ground radial 
>material. 2 each  100 foot insulated radials due to the VF are very close 
>to 1/4 wave consideration and the the shorter 100 foot bare doesn't hurt 
>either.  This of course brings up the issue of mixing bare and insulated 
>wire in any ground system so I use the bare conductor for other 80 and 40 
>verticals.  Yet the sum of the three wires is cheaper than buying them 
>individually it seems.
>
>
> Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ
>
>
>
> On 6/24/2014 2:57 PM, Jeff Woods via Topband wrote:
>>
>> I've been doing the same thing with similar wire for several years.  It 
>> works.  Some of my radials are even salvaged from Cat 5 cable - pretty 
>> thin, but they do the job.  I've found they are much more rugged when 
>> deployed as twisted pairs though.
>>
>>   Lately, I've been supplementing the radials with rolls of 2 to 3 ft. 
>> wide by 50 ft long chicken wire.  The stuff is about $5 a roll at the 
>> farm supply store.  I'll be trying it out on 80m for field day next 
>> weekend - just 6 to 8 rolls as a radial system for an HF6V multi-band 
>> vertical.  It deploys easily and rolls up quickly.
>>
>> -Jeff / W0ODS
>>
>>> ________________________________
>>> From: rich kennedy via Topband <topband at contesting.com>
>>> To: "topband at contesting.com" <topband at contesting.com>
>>> Sent: Monday, June 23, 2014 11:23 AM
>>> Subject: Topband: Deployable radials for 80/160M
>>>
>>>
>>> Hello, I'm now able to use a couple acre parcel for a new 80/160M shorty 
>>> vertical (80'); however, I can use this land only between Nov and May.
>>>
>>> For radials I'm intending on using a #22 stranded hookup wire, 300v and 
>>> wondering if this particular wire would be suitable for spooling out the 
>>> ~90 foot radials then respooling them up several months later.  Expected 
>>> power = 1KW; Number of radial ~ 40.  Any hints appreciated.
>>>
>>>
>>> 73, Rich, K3VAT
>>> _________________
>>> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>>>
>>>
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