[TowerTalk] Number of radials

[W1JCW John]

Jake –

There are many schools of thought on this subject so my email was a quick query to see what came up.

For now I have the Big IR in a temp spot while we wait for the heat to break and tower to be completed so I wanted something for the low bands.

Have a plate so will cut four for each band resonate near where I want to operate at and leave it at that.

Have a 42’ vertical which I changed into an end fed L..works very well on 160 up to 20m.  Attached dipole at 35’ mark, extended 200’ of wire out.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

73-
W1JCW
John

From: jcjacobsen at q.com [mailto:jcjacobsen at q.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2018 12:28 PM
To: towertalk <towertalk at contesting.com>; w1jcw at hotmail.com
Subject: re: Number of radials

John is looking for advice for radials under vertical for 80 meters.

John, get yourself a copy of the Antenna book. There is a chart showing number of radials, vs how efficient, vs amount of wire available.
If I remember correctly, if you only have room/enough wire for a few, then length isn't as important. I always went with, as many as I could, as long as I could make 'em.  Right now I have limited room, so I have 32 radials, aprox 30' long under 42' vertical. Works very well, at least I think so.
If they are buried, they don't have to be resonant ie no need for 1/4 wavelength long.

Have fun with the project.

73
K9WN  Jake