[TowerTalk] Ground Radials

[K8RI on TowerTalk]

> Hi all,
>
> After some sound advice from the folks on the Topband reflector, I have 
> decided to install on or in ground radials for a shunt fed vertical 
> (rather than elevated radials). I know that within a year, wire pinned to 
> the ground will "disappear".
>
> My lawn however, is dethatched every year. While I can forego this process 
> for a year or two, eventually it

We only do that about every 3 or 4 years, but we're considering a mulching 
mower.
The dethatcher probably goes down at least a couple of inches unless the 
ground is dry and hard.

>will have to be done. The dethatcher is a tow behind unit weighted down to 
>about 200 pounds with 1/8" tines >that scratch the grass (and the earth 
>too!).

Ours does a lot more than scratch<:-))

> Additionally, the lawn is core areated.
>

That we do every couple of years and it goes down about 4". Not much would 
survive that.

> Anyone have experience with this? Buried radials my only option here?
>
I have 600 feet of bare #2 copper and 33 8 foot ground rods out there. I 
haven't hit one yet, but the cable is about 4" down.  Of course that's a 
grounding system and not radials so I have no where near the amount I'd have 
for top band.

Good Luck,

Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member)
N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2
www.rogerhalstead.com


> Thanks,
> John, N9RF
>
>
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