[TowerTalk] Raised Radial Spacing

[Mike Fatchett W0MU]

You don't need 1/4 wave radials. Do what you can, you can fold them back 
on each other.  You can use varying lengths.  You can use a mesh of 
chicken wire if you wish.  I would not want a bunch of raised radials in 
my backyard.  Make sure nobody can touch them.

W0MU

On 10/24/2025 5:03 PM, Dale Dean wrote:
> I have a SteppIR BigIR vertical that I am refurbishing.  It will be installed in a small backyard that does not allow for the normal ground radial system (such as 60 ea at 33').  I will need to go to 2 ea tuned elevated radials for each band (80 thru 10 - 8 bands).  My solution (I think the only one I have due to lot restrictions) is to run the radials along the vinyl fence.  The vertical is mounted on a 4x4 post at 5 feet above the ground.  One direction has about 70' of length (straight) but the other direction has a 90-degree turn about 20 feet down from the antenna and then a straight shot the rest of the lengths so the radials for 80, 40, and 30 will have a 90-degree bend at that point and then continue on straight.  All the radials will follow the fence line so they will not be spaced out is a circular distribution from the antenna.  There will be about 1 to 2 feet of horizonal spacing in the plane for 4 bands (80, 40, 30 and 20).  I will do a similar install for the 17, 15, 12
>    and 10m bands but will have them be 1 to 2 feet down vertically from the 1st set of radials.  Hopefully, this is clear and not confusing - I do not think I am able to post a diagram of what I want to try.
>
> Couple of questions:
>
> Will this work?
>
> What is the minimum spacing horizontally and vertically for the radials as proposed?
>
> Any other suggestions?
>
> Thanks,
> Dale
> AF7WH
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