[TowerTalk] Radial evaluation

[Bruce Goldstein]

My rule of thumb for radials is to keep measuring the SWR and compare 
between days when the ground is dry and when the ground is wet.  Once 
the readings are the same, I quit adding radials.  (By the way, the 
larger the wire diameter, the quicker I reach to point of stopping).   Not very 
scientific, but the coaxial inverted Vs sure work well.  (Thank 
goodness I do not live in a desert where I suspect one would have to 
use some sort of welded chicken wire!

Bruce, WA3AFS

Date:          Wed, 31 Dec 1997 10:56:29 -0800 (PST)
To:            towertalk@contesting.com
From:          ftbrady@earthlink.net (Frank T. Brady)
Subject:       [TowerTalk] Radial evaluation

I finally ran across something I've been trying to find for a long time -
how to tell when you have 'enough' radials.  It was in the 2nd edition of
"Low-Band DXing" paragraph 1.2.3.5 "Evaluating the ground system" on page 9-13.

I bought the Palomar R-X Noise Bridge and my intentions are to back off all
but one radial and add them back until I see that the measured radiation
resistance approaches a 'lower limit' - indicating that the ground system
has reached the point of diminishing returns. At that point, I guess I'll
just add enough extra radials to achieve symmetry and stop worrying about
whether or not I've done all I can.

Has anyone out there done this?  I thought I'd chat with someone about this
procedure if any of you have tried it.

Happy New Year,
 Frank - W0ECS
 Wildomar CA


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