[TowerTalk] Radials

[wa3afs at inav.net]

Over the years I found that the larger the diameter the better for radials.

When I was a lot younger (ham years, that is), and I was experimenting with my first verticals (coaxial inverted Ls 
on 160, 80, and 40), I found the following:
  -- The antenna started to 'play' with three radials made of old coax (shield shorted to center conductor at antenna 
end).
  -- When I used some number 28 which I thought was a great deal, it took almost 40 radials before one of the 
antennas started to play.
  -- Stranded wire was a lot easier to work with.
  -- It did not matter whether the wire was insulated or not.
  -- I shied away from aluminum and galvanized because I had heard that they may not last.

I presently have 2 coaxial inverted Ls on 160M, 2 on 80M, 4 on 40M and 4 on 20M.  All have about 60 radials each 
mostly composed of number 18 with a bit of number 12, 14, and 16 thrown in.  Whatever I could find that was 
cheap.  Plenty of old coax (RG6, RG58, RG8X, and RG8).

Good luck
   73  Bruce, WA3AFS



On 12 Feb 2007 at 8:55, Steve Miller wrote:

> This may be the wrong place to ask (in which case, please direct me to 
> the right one!) but I am interested to know what affect wire size has on 
> a radial system.  Must one use #14 stranded or will #26 insulated work 
> okay.   The plan is to make it capable of handling full legal power 
> though I rarely use that.    Will larger wire have any more of a 
> broadband affect than smaller wire?  My thoughts lean toward using 60 
> radials.   Thanks for your help!!  Steve N0SM
> 
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