[Elecraft] OT: Elevated vs. Buried Radials

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

 > Personally, I do wonder about the new fangled "no radials required"
 > antennas. But, I have an old R5 and it works well.

The "no radials" antennas are basically a vertical OCF - the short
decoupling radials are the short leg and the vertical is adjusted
through the use of traps, stubs and/or loading to resonate on the
desired band with the fixed length (typically 42") of the short
"radials".

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 5/18/2013 9:25 AM, Bill wrote:
> The cleanest installation is to put the radials in the ground - but, not
> portable at all. The idea is a capacitance connection with the earth. I
> have used welded steel cattle fence in the past - I build a mat that is
> about 30 or 40 feet out from the base of the antenna.
>
> For raised radials - they must be resonate to function properly. Three
> or four per band or related band. They have to be high enough that they
> present no danger to anyone roaming around your antenna field. They can
> be drooping or horizontal - both work well.
>
> Personally, I do wonder about the new fangled "no radials required"
> antennas. But, I have an old R5 and it works well. Perhaps the way to go
> is a new antenna that just gets bolted to a post and a feedline
> attached. Sure makes life easier and from folks I talk to all the time -
> they do work. Forget that they are a little expensive. You buy an
> antenna to use for years.
>
> Read the eHam reviews and see what other users are saying before you buy
> anything. Ask on the air.
>
> The best I ever had was a Butternut of some kind over a bunch of buried
> fence. Might still be the way to go. But, if I was doing it now, I'd be
> looking at a "no radials required" antenna. My reasoning is somewhat age
> related.
>
> Be looking forward to the sage advice that will come from this post. It
> is summer - so it is antenna time.
>
> Bill W2BLC
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