Shortened radials: which length?
On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 15:15:34 +0100, "Francesco L."
wrote:
Hi Francesco,
On the ground, or elevated?
Both cases please. I did a reasearch on arrl antenna book, low band dxing
and newsgroups and got a bit confused, so I need more tips. There are too
many options, I mean: at a certain height above the ground, atop the roof,
on the ground and so on, so I'm trying to collect as much info as possible
in order to get the overall picture.
Thanks
Hi Francesco,
In the air:
You are going to need a tuner for a standard height antenna with
shorter radials. Instead, you can try adding loading coils to each
radial (about midpoint). This will take experimentation to achieve
resonance. So plan on putting it up and taking it down many times.
You will also need a good choke at the feed point (aka 1:1 W2DU
BalUn); and another one a quarter wave down the line. Some who report
here say you will need more radials the lower the antenna is, and the
closer to ground.
On the ground:
As many small radials as you can make, as long as the radiator. If
that is too long (will not fit in garden), then simply fill the area
you can. "Fill?" For argument's sake (a starting point) a dozen or
more 0.1 wavelength radials. If this is too long, increase the count
and make them the maximum length you can.
Read Wim's advice for halfwave radiators. They have the reputation of
being ground free, but it will ease tuning if you build some radials -
whatever length, whatever count (not critical). If you don't build
these; then matching becomes a function of line placement. If the
line changes, so does the match.
73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC
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