[Lowfer] Radials under dipole ends - Any Benefit ?

[KD7JYK DM09]

: Would this provide any benefit, or be a waste of time, and wire ??

If your dipole is low, and your intent is to use it for NVIS (Near Vertical 
Incidence Skywave), then it will help immensely as it would stabilize the 
ground reference for such radiation.  For the average dipole, which has a 
certain predictable pattern based on free-space calculations, the radiation 
pattern (lobes) which can be found online, it would just add more random 
relative uncertainty to a real life installation.  You may find that by 
altering the lobes with such an addition that it actually benefits you in 
some way, the same way that changing angle, height, relative location to a 
metal building, et cetera may, but to know if it will be a benefit or have a 
negative impact before you do it isn't easy.  In short, not likely at all to 
do anything beneficial for you.

Now, if you were to change your dipole to a V (not inverted V), use six or 
eight radials with the radials under that separated by a space, you'd have a 
large broadband upside down discone antenna!  That would require a lot of 
supporting structure, though...

Kurt