[TowerTalk] Top Band antenna ?

[jimlux]

Ed Laughery wrote:
> Hi
> 
> I am buiding a 160 meter vertical.  For the radials, I have some surplus 
> wire and was wondering which would be better - fewer radials measured at 1/4 
> wavelengths or a larger number of radials  that are shorter than a 1/4 
> wavelength - example - four 126+ foot radials vs five 100 foot radials or 
> double the radials but in the longer or shorter fashion.
> 
> Thanks in advance for your consideration.
> 
>

I assume you're talking about radials laying on the ground?

Rudy Severns (N6LF) has studied this with both models and field experiments
http://www.antennasbyn6lf.com/

In particular look at his presentation on tests
http://www.antennasbyn6lf.com/files/ground_system_tests.pps


To a certain extent it depends on your soil properties, but his take 
home is that more shorter radials is better until you get to around 16 
radials...