[TowerTalk] ground radial project

[K2VI]

Ok, thanks to all who responded to my last post. really appreciate all the help. I considered the ground bus system but didn't want to bury the aluminum due to it disintegrating in 5 years and above ground how could it be secured without it shifting. So i just went ahead and ordered the DX engineering stainless plate. It U bolts right to the post. I just bought 26,000 feet of # 14 stranded insulated copper wire at a govt surplus bussiness in norfolk va. I paid 615.00. I know i will never use all of it in a lifetime but who knows. For that price i had to jump on it. So the question is on my 43' vertical how many radials would you reccomend before it's a waste of time and should i make them longer than the antenna. I can run some as long as 55' and some as short as 25'. Im thinking 25' would be ineffective. Any ideas. thanks in advance.

tony k2vi