[Antennas] ground mounted vertical radials question

[Saandy Eban]

He top would be 120 radials 0.25 wavelength long.
Actually I would prefer to think in terms of a ground plane, not radials.
Radials are usually resonant in the band for which they are cut. On the
other hand, a ground plane has only one limitation: having a radius of 0.25
wavelength at the lowest operating frequency. On the other hand with a
ground plane you need a large number of radials, so as to create something
akin to a continuous plane. On the other hand, you don't need resonant
elements for each band!
As a sideline, if you choose to elevate the antenna, let's say to 10 feet,
the required number of radials is reduced drastically! The reference to 2 or
3 radials per band is made for this situation. But then they have to be
resonant, so you need a typical 2 or 3 per band.
I myself am using a HiGain HG-14 at 12 feet with only 4 radials cut for 40
meters and getting out of it all bands from 40 to 10 meters quite nicely:
from Argentina to Korea from 4Zulu land.
Alex	4Z5KS
alexeban at gmail.com
      050-7774300
      03-9067913


-----Original Message-----
From: antennas-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:antennas-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of David Ashworth
Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2006 7:38 AM
To: antennas at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Antennas] ground mounted vertical radials question

Hello to all.  Will be installing a Hustler 5BTV vertical on the ground, up
in the country where there is no problem with people tripping over radials.
The radials will NOT be buried.  They will be placed upon the ground.  Been
reading my reference material on radials, but would like to hear from
operators that have been there/done that.  The lowest band will be 80 meters
and the highest 10 meters.   Hustler recommends at least two radials per
band.  Then, been reading W2FMI's book about short verticals.  Think he was
happy with about 40 radials.  Am I on the right track, the more radials, the
better, up to a certain point?  The soil there is very dry unless it has
been raining.  As soon as the sun comes out, there goes the moisture content
of the soil.  So, would it be better to spread, say 40 radials at 1/8
wavelength, or maybe 20 at 1/4 wavelength?  Would you spread some for just
80, or do a combination of the different bands?  If this was salt water, bet
you could throw a coat hanger in there, but it is not.  Any good ideas?  I
am leaning towards less radials and longer radials, but experience is the
best teacher.  Thank you for your comments/recommendations, Dave, NC6P.

______________________________________________________________
Antennas mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/antennas
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html
Post: mailto:Antennas at mailman.qth.net