[Elecraft] OT: Elevated vs. Buried Radials

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Joe, the article I referenced clearly said to use 1/4 wavelength radials
when they are elevated. That's agrees with everything I've read and done
over years as well. 

I'll stand behind that SteppIR article as showing how to put up a vertical
that avoids the worst pitfalls. (And it's basically a repeat of what's in
every Antenna Handbook I've read over the years.) 

Can one tweak it even further? Perhaps. The articles you reference study
some ideal situations that most Hams cannot emulate that do so, especially
in producing a perfectly omnidirectional pattern with a minimum of 4
radials. And they confirm the basic rules covered in the SteppIR article. 

73, Ron AC7AC  



-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Joe Subich, W4TV
Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2013 11:53 AM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT: Elevated vs. Buried Radials


The SteppIR information is overly simplified.  For the best current analysis
of elevated vs. on ground radials see the extensive data from N6LF -
http://www.antennasbyn6lf.com

In particular, read the comments on elevated radials:
http://www.antennasbyn6lf.com/2011/02/comments-on-elevated-radials.html
studies on ground systems:
<http://www.antennasbyn6lf.com/2009/12/series-of-qex-articles-on-ground-syst
em-experiments.html>
and studies on elevated radial systems:
<http://www.antennasbyn6lf.com/2012/02/elevated-radial-ground-systems-some-c
autions.html>

One of the major red flags with elevated radials - they must be a major
fraction of a wavelength (1/8 wave is a good rule of thumb) before they
really act independently of the "dirt".  Even then, nothing will reduce the
losses in the 1 to 10 wavelength area responsible for forming the low take
off angle lobe.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV