[TowerTalk] Ground radials/elevated radials

[Tom Rauch]

> The same would hold true for elevated radials?

Elevated radials are overrated. Unless you can get them up
1/4 wl or more in the air, you will still contend with
ground losses when you only use a few radials. Also the
system is NOT fully unbalanced when you use a small
counterpoise. It is in the murkey land of not being balanced
and  not being totally unbalanced.

> I am designing a 4-square for 80m. Full size verticals.
Comteq
> phasing/switching unit. But I need elevated radials for
practical reasons
> (the land below is used for small-size agriculture). I am
not sure how  many
> and how long radials are needed for each antenna. I am not
after the
> ultimate system, only one with decent results.

When I tested systems at a few locations, I found I needed
about 15-20 elevated radials (up about 6 ft) to equal 60 on
the ground. You will still need a choke or current balun to
cool off the feedlines in some cases even with 15 radials.