[Antennas] Radials

[Edward Dickinson, III]

A source of information I use for reference about radial numbers and length
seems to be somewhat contrary to some commonly held thoughts.  

Table 3 - Optimum Ground-System Configurations in the 17th Edition of the
ARRL Antenna book indicates the number of radials and length are inversely
proportional.  Most of the data in the Table is taken from Radio Broadcast
Ground Systems and is based on average ground conductivity. 

For example:  16 radials at 0.1 wavelength for a 1/4 wavelength vertical
will produce a 52 ohm feed-point impedance with a power loss of 3 dB.

Likewise:  120 radials at 0.4 wavelength for a 1/4 wavelength vertical will
produce a 35 ohm feed-point impedance with a negligible loss.

>From the text:  "Using radials considerably longer than suggested for a
given number or using a lot more radials than suggested for a given length,
while not adverse to performance, does not yield significant improvement
either."


Best regards

Dick - KA5KKT