[TowerTalk] [Bulk] Radial question

[Kelly Taylor]

For ground-laid radials, didn't Jim make the point that they serve primarily to shield the Earth from the antenna's RF?

73, kelly, ve4xt 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 27, 2016, at 5:46 PM, Drax Felton <draxfelton at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I always liked this article where they optimize the length of wire you have vs. radial count vs. radial length.
> http://ncjweb.com/bonus-content/k3lcmaxgainradials.pdf
> 
> The radials on my 160 meter vertical are all different lengths to fit the available space.   I've made 1000's of contacts on it.  I keep adding new radials over time and some have gotten broken off.     Despite it all it doesn't really seem to make any difference and becomes a diminishing return.
> 
> I see no reason to make yourself crazy trying to do quarter wave plus 5%.  It's going to vary based on soil conditions plus what exactly is a quarter wave radial?   You'd have to measure the velocity factor radial wire.  Just lay down as many as your back, wallet, and space allows.
> 
> KB3X
> 
> 
>> On 2/27/2016 3:27 PM, Grant Saviers wrote:
>> installing a 40/80 meter vertical (DX Engineering 8040VA-1) which calls
>> for 65 foot radials. However, I recently saw a video of an antenna
>> presentation by W3LPL in which Frank suggests 70 foot radials for an 80
>> meter antenna. I'll be burying the radials about an inch in the ground.
>> Will it really make a dime's worth of difference whether I cut the radials
>> at 65 ft or 70 ft? My understanding of radials has always been that
>> elevated radials should be cut at a quarter wave plus 5%, but ground radial
>> length isn't critical. I just wanted to get a consensus before I start
>> chopping up thousands of feet of wire.
> 
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