wrote in message
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wrote:
Ok, I think I am learning something here. If radials simulate earth,
would using a solid steel plate instead of radials be better?
Depends on how you define "better".
For an elevated antenna, once you get beyond about 3 or 4 radials, the
increamental difference in performance for added radials is such that
you would never notice it in a practical application.
Doesn't it somewhat depend on frequency? I.e., how electrically large those
radials appear to the antenna?
I ask due to having seen how commercial AM radio station antennas are
built -- usually something pushing a dozen radials, often over a wire mesh
as well.
I'm thinking that in the case of a commercial station, they often multiple
phased antennas to try to precisely control their radiation pattern, in
which case have each antenna be 'as ideal as possible' probably helps.
---Joel