[Elecraft] N6KR FD report

[wayne burdick]

On Jun 28, 2004, at 11:55 AM, Leigh L. Klotz, Jr. wrote:

> Wayne,
>
> What radial did you use on 40m for the 50ft random wire?  33ft, 33ft 
> shortened for ground coupling, or random length?
>
> Background: I have tried using your recommendation of 28ft for the 
> center conductor and band-switching with 16, 24, or 33 ft on the 
> ground for the radial.  Bonnie KQ6XA recomends a radial 10-15% shorter 
> than 1/4 lamda if it is not elevated, but I found 1.2:1 with the ATU, 
> and don't have the RF Ammeter (or light bulb) that K6ACJ Bill used to 
> verify those length recommendations.

The optimal length of ground radials will vary with how many you use, 
as well as local conditions, including nearby objects (Bar-B-Ques, 
highly-conductive family members, volleyball net supports, etc.). I was 
actually using a single 15' radial, alligator-clipped to a 3' or so 
ground rod that some past user of the picnic table had kindly pounded 
in   ;)

50' is also just an estimate. In any case, the KX1 and K2 auto-tuners 
both tuned up the random wire on all bands.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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