No, Steve, that was not a typo on my part when I used 16' 3" as a quarter
wave on 40 meters; that was simply a mistake on my part, and you are
absolutely correct. The more correct number is closer to 32' 6" which is a
quarter wave for the center of the 40 meter band. I simply divided a
one-half by 4 instead of 2. Of course, I know better. That is what I get for
multi-tasking! Give me a break, that is the first mistake I've made this
year, which means I'm slipping a bit because last year I didn't make any
mistakes at all! <lol> Thanks for keeping me on my toes! <Smile>
Ron, K8HSY
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Steve Forst
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2014 10:40 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Questions about Setting Up Radials
Don't want to be nit picky over an obvious typo, but there are some new
hams trying to get their heads around all this stuff.
16 feet would be a quarter wave on 20 meters and for 40 meters would be in
the 33 foot range.
For whatever it's worth, Butternut and maybe some of the other vertical
builders recommend going a bit longer than quarter wave. 240 / freq in mhz
instead of the usual 234 / f in mhz.
I guess the bottom line is we all just put up what we can, where we can, and
how we can, then work the world.
73, Steve KW3A
On 7/2/2014 11:24 AM, Dr. Ronald E. Milliman wrote:
> Colleagues,
>
> With respect to a radial system used with a vertical,
>
> 1. The length of the radials, ideally, should be a quarter wave length
> for the lowest band for which the vertical is designed; for example,
> if the vertical is designed for 40 to 10 meters, the radials, ideally,
> should be around 16' 3" which is one-quarter wave length for 40 meters
>
> 2. The more radials, the better
>
> 3. Ideally, the radials should be placed symmetrically around the base
> of the vertical
>
> 4. Insolated wires are less likely to disintegrate as quickly as
> uninsulated wires
>
> 5. At least one ground rod should be driven into the ground at the base
> of the vertical to which the ground side of the vertical and all
> radials should be attached
>
> 6. In general, larger gage wire is better than smaller gage wire, but
> even wire as small as 20 gage will work just fine
>
> 7. The above are best case scenarios; shorter radials are better than
> no radials, as few as four radials is better than no radials;
> non-symmetrical patterned radials is better than no radials, and
> uninsolated wire radials is better than no radials at all
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Lloyd Rasmussen
> Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2014 7:44 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Questions about Setting Up Radials
>
> The more radials the better. Heavier-gauge wire could be better.
> Stranded, insulated, should make little difference. How are you going
> to mow the lawn if the wire is just on the ground? I have heard that
> if there is good grass growing, the wires will tend to get buried in
> organic matter, which prevents further damage by lawn mowers.
> If the antenna is bracketed to the house (I think you said a couple
> feet outside), this antenna is going to be rather compromised, anyway.
> It is really impossible to predict the results you will get, good or
> bad. The radials will probably make the biggest difference on the low
> bands. I hope you will have the tuner out near the antenna base and not
back in the shack.
>
> Prepare to do a lot of expeerimentation.
> 73,
>
> Lloyd Rasmussen, W3IUU/4, Orlando, FL (at the NFB convention)
> http://lras.home.sprynet.com -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard B McDonald
> Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2014 8:12 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Questions about Setting Up Radials
>
> 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
>
>
>
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