[Antennas] Diminishing Returns

[Jim Miller KG0KP]

As previously stated See Cebik's site www.cebik.com .

All the charts are there.  These are not hearsay, they are science.

As an example, going from 32 to 64 radials will gain you .15 dB !!!!  Adding 
64 to that (128) will gain you about another .15 dB.  You gained .3dB by 
adding 96 radials !!!!  It's your dollar.

With 32 radials - going from 2mm diameter wire to 8mm dia will gain you 
about .07 dB.  Slightly less than if you have 64 or again to 96 !!!  Not me. 
It's YOUR antenna and YOUR money, do what makes YOU happy.  I would spend my 
money on more economical improvements that would gain me a lot more more per 
dollar than that many radials.  IMHO of course.

Not argueing, just stating the facts, Jack.
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Cebik: Here are the tests that you will encounter in this note.

1. Radial wire size: 2, 4, and 8 mm diameter / number of radials.

2. Radial length: 0.15 through 0.40 wavelength in 0.05-wavelength increments

3. Radial insulation: separate insulation thickness and insulation 
permittivity tests

4. Monopole length: 0.20 through 0.60 wavelength in 0.1-wavelength 
increments

5. Soil conditions: Very poor, average, and very good soil

6. Frequency: 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 MHz

73, Jim