[HCARC] Vertical Antenna Radial System

[Gary and Arlene Johnson]

Almost everything I read about putting radials down for a vertical antenna has a radically different answer.  In many cases they preface their recommendations with "it depends on how conductive your ground is".  Since I am on typical to better than typical Hill Country rocky ledge soil, what kind of radial system will I need.  When I say my land is better than the average Hill Country soil I mean that compared to the Hunt Ingram area with its almost all rock, and compared to the soil around the area North of Tierra Linda which is almost all rock, I have some good soil and some rocky areas.  I do have to garden in raised beds and I do drill holes with my Big Hammer drill for T-post installation.   I surely do not have as good a soil as the alluvial plains along the river.  My questions are: 1) what should the center plate should be made from - copper, brass, aluminum, stainless steel???  Would a ring of soft copper A/C freon line work vs a plate??  2) what metal should the radials be made from copper, aluminum and what gauge??  (3) how to attach - nuts and bolts, silver soldered, regular electrical soldered and last 4) how many radials??  I have heard anything from 4-120 recommended.  DX engineering says 60 for the Hustler 5-btv antenna I picked up from Gale H. yesterday, but that number matches the number of holes and bolts on the $150.00 radial plate system they sell - i.e. they probably have some bias.  One thing I have heard is "the more the better", but that probably has a level of diminishing returns.

73's

Gary J
N5"BAA"