On Sat, 20 Jan 2007 13:32:51 -0000, "David" nospam@nospam wrote:

It is said that the elevated radials are an artificial ground plane,
simulate a ground plane, form a virtual ground plane, or approximate a
ground plane. It may be that the radials perform the same function as a
ground plane, but do not form a real ground plane.

Hi David,

You've recited this more than once. Repetition does nothing to reveal
these as anything more than disconnected statements.

For example, the Butternut antenna manual at following web address says that
elevated radials are an artificaial ground plane.

http://www.bencher.com/pdfs/00361ZZV.pdf

Simple observation of the wandering usage through that document would
inform most that "ground plane" is a term of convenience.

What functions do the radials perform that are the same as a real ground
plane?

There is no such thing as a "real ground plane."

What similarities are there between radials and a real ground plane?

None.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC