Hi; The radials should help transmit on all bands but a vertical isn't the best antenna for short contacts on 75/80 meters. It works much better if the station is further away. Richard ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gery Gaubert" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 2:22 PM Subject: antennas radials and what to As all of you probably know, I have a butternut hf 6v vertical antenna. I = have worked people in California, the Carolinas, Texas, New York and Rhode = island. I haven't had a lot of time since I got licensed. I made these co= ntacts without radials on my antenna. Yesterday, I tried to participate on= a net on 3910 Khz. Hams throughout the state of Louisiana participate in = this net. I couldn't be heard but could hear almost everyone. I had an sw= r of about 1/6. 2 watts reflective and about 99 watts forward. I didn't t= hink this was that bad. I am notsure on how the discussion went but are th= e radials going to help for receiving or transmitting or both? Even after = the radials are in place will the energy from the signal just go over the l= ocal areas?