[TowerTalk] Raised Radial Spacing

[Mike Fatchett W0MU]

We simply pointed out that he did not have to use raised radials.  That 
is all.  The OP is free to do what he wants.  The value of the list is 
to propose alternatives that might be easier for the OP.

W0MU

On 10/27/2025 7:08 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote:
> Dale,
>
> Short answer:  I have almost the exact same setup. It'll work.
>
> How nearly half  the readership got onto ground radials and arguing I am not
> certain.  It does kinda seem that a number of threads on Towertalk and
> CQ-Contest fly off the rails fairly quickly often involving adjacent
> discussions for reasons that I cannot fathom.  You asked a pretty
> straightforward question and I hope the answer below will help you.
>
> My example is an HF9V multiband vertical mounted on the back of my shed (on
> a side where a gutter would normally be, not on the peak) around the 6.5'
> mark AGL.
>
> I then made 2 RESONANT (raised) radials for each band I intended to operate
> from. 80, 40,30,  20, 15*, 17, 12 and 10m.
> I skipped 6m radials as I use yagis on 6m and I skipped the *15m radials as
> I figured the 40m radials would perform double duty at 3 wavelengths on 15m
> (seems to work).
>
> In my case the RAISED (resonant) radials were first made as a kind of dipole
> then I got my analyzer out, got them in the ballpark after trimming and then
> removed the temp. center insulator and attached the pair to the baseplate of
> the RAISED HF9V.
>
> I have 2 raised resonant radials extending out roughly 180* apart from one
> attachment point for each band, running in the air and over branches in fir
> trees and ultimately tied off to the tops of 50yr old cedar fence posts
> around the 4' mark in most cases (so sloped down slightly from the multiband
> verticals base which is at 6-7' AGL).
>
>    The RAISED (resonant) radials start out together and then I fan them out
> as well as could be expected but most of them are 6"-12" apart from one
> another using air or in some cases super small PVC spacers.(spacing varies a
> lot)
>
> I was able to obtain a near perfect SWR on most bands and operation of the
> HF9V mounted 6-7' AGL is as to be expected. (some would say radiates poorly
> in all directions, hi)
>
> Over the years some of the radials have sagged or fallen (tree branches!)
> and I have caught the odd one or two with a tractor or a ladder or some deer
> (buck) caught his antlers or whatever and some of them have become slightly
> tangled (storms) and I do some half hearted repairs but have never noticed
> much degradation in Signal strengths or SWR measurements.  It's only a
> backup to a backup antenna, so almost never gets used these days.  My wire
> 4-squares are always better (and quieter) so the HF9V, while solid, plays
> 3rd fiddle now.
>
> Once you do your first "dipole" or two of some of the RAISED (resonant)
> radials you can do the math and make subsequent radial pairs with little or
> no antenna analyzer measurements needed imo. Bend them, it matters very
> little.
>
> GL with it!
>
> Mike - VE9Antenna Antenna
>
> AF7WH asks:
>
>
> 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
>
> Mike - Keswick Ridge, NB, Canada
>
>
>
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