[Antennas] Radial Wires VS a wire or screen mesh

[AI4WM]

No reason why 4 X 4 or any other hardware wire, mesh or fencing would
not work.  The idea is to make the near field ground as conductive as
possible.  I have used all kinds of tricks including running the
sprinklers to keep the ground wet to increase field strength.

Barbed wire has been used in commercial radio laid on the ground and
some times just below the surface in high crime areas where the copper
radials get stolen.  I worked with a consultant who did exactly that a
few weeks after we spoke about it at a station he was assisting.  They
were worried their license would need modifications since laying the
barbed wire on the top of the ground did actually increase their 1V/M
contour.

As a private citizen I do not think I would use barbed wire due to the
liablity and in many towns and cities it would be flat out illegal.



On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 11:44 AM, Ron Youvan <ka4inm at tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
>>  Does anyone know if a functional radial system can be made using fencing wire mesh, say 4
> x 4?  If un-welded mesh were used and laid down the length of either 1/8 wave or 1/4 wave,
> shouldn't it work as well as radial wires?  Or is it the radial symmetry around the driven
> pole the key?
>
>   A great deal of it is the length.  American broadcast counterpoise systems are required
> to be 120 wires evenly spaced, but there are concentric rings of wire that tie the radials
> together creating a "mat" of wire, but the rings are soldered or welded to the radial
> wires at every intersection.  In many locations (soil types) galvanized wire can outlast
> copper, but making an efficient reflector for the 1/4 wl vertical antenna is the goal.
> Un-welded, bad idea, solder or brazing the joints will work if the other criteria is met.
> I would buy 133' rolls over panels of any kind.  (like "red top")  It won't be cheep, I
> think buying solenoid windings wound with copper wire and such at HAM-fests and rolling it
> out is the cheapest plan I have heard about.
> --
>    Ron  KA4INM - I'm proud to be Chuck's pop!
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-- 
73,
Bill
AI4WM