[TowerTalk] DX Engineering radial plate question

[Rob Atkinson, K5UJ]

Hello all,

I have been spending time here and there, studying the construction methods 
used in AM medium wave broadcast ground systems.  As most of you know, the 
typical AM monopole counterpoise is 120 quarter or half wave radials.  The 
hardware is usually all copper with cadwelding and copper strap bonding to 
the tower matching network where the coax comes in.

In my own counterpoise for my 160 m. inverted L, I use the well known and 
generally highly regarded DX Engineering radial plate.  This is well made 
and quite robust however I'm bothered by one thing--it is made with 
stainless steel.   Compared to copper and brass, stainless steel is a poor 
conductor.  In fact, its conductivity is around 4% of the conductivity value 
of brass for example.  Before I put a sheet of copper over the radial plate 
and use the plate for physical ruggedness only, I thought I'd ask here for 
opinions -- is the DX Engineering radial plate a return path resistor?   The 
fact that it is not particularly large may be a mitigating factor.

tnx
rob / k5uj

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