[TowerTalk] Raised Radial Spacing

[Jeff Blaine]

I agree with John's comment here.  Put down the wire you can.

I would specifically AVOID using tuned radials.  The reason for that is 
the current peaks in a 1/4 WL radial and that is the higher loss 
condition.  It's better to have current sharing over a group of 
NONRESONANT radials instead for the reasons that one of the earlier 
posters mentioned supporting the higher count argument (I think maybe it 
was K9YC Jim making that point).

The great thing about a vertical is that it really "wants to work."  And 
in the StepIR case, you have the variable length thing to fiddle with 
which will make getting a decent match against whatever ground you have 
work in your favor.

GL!

73/jeff/ac0c
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
www.ac0c.com

On 10/25/2025 10:03 PM, john at kk9a.com wrote:
> Installing 60 33ft radials is definitely not necessary.   From the real
> estate listing it looks like you have plenty of room in your backyard for
> ground radials.  They do not need to be any particular length or in all
> directions, just put in what you can the best that you can.  The SteppIR
> vertical will work OK and you won't have a maze of elevated wires ruining
> your yard.
>
> GL
> John KK9A
>
>
> Dale Dean AF7WH 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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