[TowerTalk] Ground radials- the long and short of it

[David Hachadorian]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Fike" <kc0bus at hotmail.com>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 11:30 PM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Ground radials- the long and short of it


> Pertaining to a ground-mounted vertical antenna with buried radials
a few
> inches below the surface of the grass:

>   Some books I've read say:  ".... make the ground radials 1/4
wavelength
> long to match the main 1/4 wavelength long vertical element". Other
books
> and sources say: "..... just make the ground radials as long as you
can to
> fit in the availible space in your yard".


I think the rule is this:

"Use as many radials, up to 1/4 wavelength long, as will fit in the
space available, such that the distance between radial tips does not
exceed .015 wavelength (4 feet on 80 meters)."

Dave Hachadorian, K6LL