[TowerTalk] Chicken Wire Ground Screen

[W5CPT]

We used to use two 100' by 4' rolls of galvanized chicken wire laid out in a + pattern for a Field Day Vertical.  It worked well but was not permanent.  We attached the wires to the ground lug of the antenna with split-bolts and short pieces of 12 Ga solid wire. We held the chicken wire down with plastic tent pegs.  

How long it lasts in a permanent installation will depend on the acidity of the soil.  The higher the acidity, the faster the Zinc will go away and once it is gone the steel will be shortly behind.

Clint - W5CPT


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Joe Giacobello 
  To: towertalk at contesting.com 
  Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 4:06 PM
  Subject: [TowerTalk] Chicken Wire Ground Screen


  I know that there are several folks out there who are using chicken wire 
  ground screens in addition to radials for their verticals.  I'm curious 
  to know if the various sections of chicken wire are (1) soldered to one 
  another and (2) to the radial system?  I'd guess if the chicken wire 
  sections were overlapped at their edges, there would be a high 
  probability of their making contact somewhere along their length so that 
  soldering wouldn't be unnecessary.  No?
   
  I presume that the lifetime on the ground for the chicken wire is 
  relatively short?  Two-three years?  OTOH, wouldn't the remnants of the 
  wire and its degradation products enhance the conductivity of the soil 
  surrounding the antenna so that the remaining radials are now more 
  effective?

  Just curious to know what your collective experiences and thoughts are 
  on this subject.

  Thanks for your input.

  73, Joe
  K2XX
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