[Elecraft] On ground - in ground radials

[Bob McGraw]

I made a handful of staples using some scrap solid wire.  #10, #12, #14 
works great and no need to remove the insulation.   Make them about 4" 
long per side, and place them over the radial, pushing them into the 
ground.  I agree, cut the grass short, pull the radial tight and "staple 
it to the ground".

I don't care for nails, or the likely hood of such,  in my lawn tractor 
tires.

73

Bob, K4TAX



On 1/16/2022 11:40 AM, elecraft-request at mailman.qth.net wrote:
> Message: 9
> Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2022 11:20:11 -0500
> From: Tom & Barb Valosin<valosin at midtel.net>
> To:elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] On ground - in ground radials
> Message-ID:<8d6b4b1b-cd91-59ba-c485-0f49b0d5a173 at midtel.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
>
> Now in my mid seventies I have embraced the idea of conservation of
> energy. Digging in radials does not interest me. Likewise, catching them
> in lawn equipment is also a PIA. So, here is what I have done and it has
> worked well. I trim the grass.? Then I use a length of string and
> stretch it out along the path of the future radial. Next I take a
> "weed-wacker" and shorten the grass a bit more. Now I use any old
> available can of spray paint and spray a few marks along the length of
> the string. Remember to roll up the string now - no longer needed. Then
> I take my radial wire, make the connection at the antenna base and
> stretch the wire out along the marked path. Depending of the
> levelness/evenness of the surface I then take a nail and make one wrap
> of the radial around the nail, tighten the wire so it is straight with
> no loops and insert the nail into the dirt. Do this along the length of
> the radial. Typically I do it about every 10 to 15 feet. In a couple of
> days the grass grows and the wire is so low (deeply embedded) in the
> grass that mowing will not be an issue. The entire radial system need
> not be done at one time and it is easy to add radials if you wish. HINT
> - get a grandchild to help, or a neighborhood youngster or a person
> working toward their license or one of the younger club members or .....
> anyone but yourself. Remember however to compensate them for their time
> and effort!
>
> Tom, WB2KLD