[HCARC] Vertical Antenna Ground Plane Connector

[Gary and Arlene Johnson]

Thanks for the information.  I realize the shortcomings about the 5BTV, but 
I have it and that makes it the best vertical I have.  I was just looking to 
the future when talking about the Hy-Gain Hy-Tower - who knows what turns up 
when you are looking - nothing when you are not.

My question on radials comes from things I have read where they state things 
like "minimally, put in a couple of radials for each band".  That sounds 
like some of various lengths.  Others say what you do - more is better, 
longer is better.

Thanksw again,

Gary J
N5BAA
HCARC Secretary 2013


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kerry Sandstrom" <kerryk5ks at hughes.net>
To: "Gary and Arlene Johnson" <qltfnish at omniglobal.net>; 
<hcarc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2013 8:14 AM
Subject: Re: [HCARC] Vertical Antenna Ground Plane Connector


> Gary,
>
> As I've said before, almost anything is right.  Especially if it is 
> simple, easy, and cheap.  For HF it is hard to go wrong.
>
> Yes, I would love to have a Hy-Tower vertical.  The only reason I don't is 
> the price which I believe is now over a thousand dollars.  It is an 
> extremely simple full size vertical for 80 thru 10 and quite rugged.  I 
> don't ever expect to have one however and I'm happy with my old second 
> hand Butternut HF2-V.  I belive the Hy-Tower is still the best vertical 
> out there by far.  I only have 2 things against the 5BTV, first it uses 
> traps and second it is fairly short.  Verticals that seem to perform 
> better are closer to a full quarter wave in height and don't use traps. 
> Many people use 5BTV's and they are fine antennas and do a good job, I 
> just prefer a different style..
>
> There are a lot of different opinions on radials for multiband verticals. 
> My opinion is the more the better and the longer the better.  I use 16 
> radials each 55 feet long.  From the technical side, a wire on the ground 
> or buried is not really going to have a sharp resonance.  Ground is lossy 
> and its proximity to the wires will destroy any resonance.  I believe the 
> purpose of a radial system is to provide a higher conductivity region near 
> the base of a vertical and to provide capacitive coupling between the 
> antenna and real ground.  More and longer radials will improve both.  You 
> reach a point of diminishing returns however.  I could use more and longer 
> radials but I don't think it would make more than a dB or 2 difference so 
> I'm reasonably satisfied.  Note that a ground rod is not a suitable 
> substitue for a radial system but sea water or salt marsh would be, fresh 
> water is not.
>
> Kerry
>
>
>
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