[Elecraft] Small QRP antenna

[Richard Fjeld]

Thanks Charlie and Don, that helps.  This is the first time I have gone 
with an antenna that needs radials/ground poise.

Dick, n0ce



On 12/29/2016 11:05 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> Dick,
>
> With buried radials, they do not have to be 1/4 wave long, and a 
> single one will probably not make much difference over your ground rod.
> What you want to accomplish is a "ground screen", which means many 
> short (about 1/8 wavelength) close to the base of the radiator and a 
> few extending out further (to 1/4 or 1/2 wavelength).
>
> Ground conductivity plays a great part in buried radials, and what you 
> are trying to accomplish is to increase the ground conductivity in the 
> area at the base of the antenna.
>
> If you were instead using elevated radials, they would have to be 
> resonant - think of the various "ground plane" antennas that have been 
> published - 1/4 wave radiator plus 2 or 4 1/4 wave radials.
> Buried radials do not have to be resonant, elevated radials must be 
> resonant.  The ground effects will alter the resonance of buried 
> radials while radials in the air are a part of the total antenna 
> resonance.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR