Hi!

 

Soon, I will install a 43' HF (160M - 6M) antenna.  I have a few questions
about setting up the radials for this antenna, as follows:

 

1.  The manual for the antenna recommends using 18 gauge wire.  Would using
a larger gauge wire (e.g., 16 gauge( be better?  Since my radial system will
not be ideal (see below), I wonder if increasing the gauge of the wire might
be helpful.

 

2.  Does it matter if the wire is solid copper or braided copper?  Is one
better than the other?  Also, should the wire be a) insulated or b)
uninsulated?  Does it matter, or is one better than the other?

 

3.  These radials will not be buried in small trenches in the ground.
Instead, the end of each radial will be "staked" into the ground, and also
likely a few "stakes" along each radial's length.  So, regarding the
"stakes", is it OK that they are metal?  Is it better if these stakes are
insulated, similar to the wire?  Would plastic or wood stakes be any or much
better?

 

I think I will be able to layout about 16 radials.  However, not each will
be the height of the antenna (maybe half of them will be), their layout will
not be symmetrical (like spokes on a wheel) and about 180 degrees radius off
of the antenna will not have radials extending outward in this quadrant.

 

Finally, are there any tricks I can employ to improve my radial system?  For
example, I think I once heard of someone laying down chicken wire around the
antenna base.  Is something like that beneficial?

 

73,

Richard KK6MRH