"Hank Zoeller" wrote in message
...
I'm constructing a vertical antenna and I'm about to start laying radials.

F/O will be 40 through 15 meters. The vertical element will be 26 feet in
height. There will be a remote controlled antenna coupler mounted at the
base. I'm using 18 AWG magnet wire for the radials. The radials will be
short (no options here) but there will be a lot of them. I plan on about
18" of separation between the radial tips and I have more than enough
radial wire to work with. The radials will be stapled directly to the
outer surface of the planet.

--
73,
Hank

Hank,

My understanding of a radial system is it is basically a very conductive
ground. Not so much a counterpoise - you try and make the earth the
counterpoise. Nonetheless, the ground will detune your radials. So, no
matter what length the radial, you have no way of predicting it's resonate
frequency. That will be determined by soil composition and moisture level,
etc. And it will vary from day to day.

I'm not sure, and some one else should chime in, but I am almost certain
that your radials should not be insulated from the ground. Magnet wire is
normally varnished and therefore insulated. Given your plan, chicken wire
would be better, and the cash value of the copper would more than pay for
it.

Jim

KB1NXE

Simple rule for (non resonant) radials in or on the ground:
1. Mo' - da better
2. Longer the better.
3. Better to use (insulated) wire on the surface than buried. Just stretch
it out and let the grass grow over.
4. Water before contest or major DX hunting.
5. Forget the above and set it up on the salty beach.

73 Yuri, K3BU


"James Philopena" wrote in message
news:_chYg.404$AR6.22@trndny02...

"Hank Zoeller" wrote in message
...
I'm constructing a vertical antenna and I'm about to start laying
radials.

F/O will be 40 through 15 meters. The vertical element will be 26 feet
in height. There will be a remote controlled antenna coupler mounted at
the base. I'm using 18 AWG magnet wire for the radials. The radials
will be short (no options here) but there will be a lot of them. I plan
on about 18" of separation between the radial tips and I have more than
enough radial wire to work with. The radials will be stapled directly to
the outer surface of the planet.

--
73,
Hank

Hank,

My understanding of a radial system is it is basically a very conductive
ground. Not so much a counterpoise - you try and make the earth the
counterpoise. Nonetheless, the ground will detune your radials. So, no
matter what length the radial, you have no way of predicting it's resonate
frequency. That will be determined by soil composition and moisture
level, etc. And it will vary from day to day.

I'm not sure, and some one else should chime in, but I am almost certain
that your radials should not be insulated from the ground. Magnet wire is
normally varnished and therefore insulated. Given your plan, chicken wire
would be better, and the cash value of the copper would more than pay for
it.

Jim

KB1NXE

Yuri Blanarovich wrote:
Simple rule for (non resonant) radials in or on the ground:
1. Mo' - da better
2. Longer the better.
3. Better to use (insulated) wire on the surface than buried. Just stretch
it out and let the grass grow over.
4. Water before contest or major DX hunting.
5. Forget the above and set it up on the salty beach.

All good advice. Well, except for #5. Can't afford beachfront property!
--
73,
HZ

What? Haven't got a buck?
Check out www.TeslaRadio.org
we got some 200 acres of salty marshy QTH with two story building and 40
rhombics for a $1. We are looking for extra hands and brains to help with
restoration and operating.
I just put some more pictures and partial drawing of antenna farm (under
location -maps - site survey).

73 Yuri, K3BU.us


"Hank Zoeller" wrote in message
...
Yuri Blanarovich wrote:
Simple rule for (non resonant) radials in or on the ground:
1. Mo' - da better
2. Longer the better.
3. Better to use (insulated) wire on the surface than buried. Just
stretch it out and let the grass grow over.
4. Water before contest or major DX hunting.
5. Forget the above and set it up on the salty beach.

All good advice. Well, except for #5. Can't afford beachfront property!
--
73,
HZ

On Mon, 16 Oct 2006 21:14:55 -0400, "Yuri Blanarovich"
wrote:

What? Haven't got a buck?
Check out www.TeslaRadio.org
we got some 200 acres of salty marshy QTH with two story building and 40
rhombics for a $1. We are looking for extra hands and brains to help with
restoration and operating.
I just put some more pictures and partial drawing of antenna farm (under
location -maps - site survey).

73 Yuri, K3BU.us

Hello Yuri,

Just checked out the Tesla site--veerrry impressive! And congratulations on
founding the Tesla Radio Foundation--Bravo! Tesla was indeed a great contributor
to our art and science, and I agree that he has not had the recognition he
deserved. You are performing a splendid service.

And what a great site for a ham station--the old WOO station! Hope you can put
those rhombics back in operation. I've just committed one of the seven deadly
sins--I'm green with envy!

Walt W2DU

Hi Walt,

Thanks for your kind comments. You can change your color to tan, come on
down and catch some sun tan while inspecting the rhombics.
Looks like God is good to me, after all the forced absence from radio and
search for new QTH and place for Tesla, we were rewarded. So far lot of
cleanup and fixing, but the potential and fertile salty grounds for the
antennas are just dream come through.
Recently we had bunch of high tides and flooding, as can be seen from the
pictures, but usually over the winter the tides subside and it is easier to
walk around and do some antenna fixing.
It will be interesting to compare some classics vs. rhombics and how the
modeling reflects the reality.
We are looking for hands and/or brains to join our club, no dues, just sweat
or brain equity to get it rolling.

73 Yuri, K3BU


"Walter Maxwell" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 16 Oct 2006 21:14:55 -0400, "Yuri Blanarovich"

wrote:

What? Haven't got a buck?
Check out www.TeslaRadio.org
we got some 200 acres of salty marshy QTH with two story building and 40
rhombics for a $1. We are looking for extra hands and brains to help with
restoration and operating.
I just put some more pictures and partial drawing of antenna farm (under
location -maps - site survey).

73 Yuri, K3BU.us

Hello Yuri,

Just checked out the Tesla site--veerrry impressive! And congratulations
on
founding the Tesla Radio Foundation--Bravo! Tesla was indeed a great
contributor
to our art and science, and I agree that he has not had the recognition he
deserved. You are performing a splendid service.

And what a great site for a ham station--the old WOO station! Hope you can
put
those rhombics back in operation. I've just committed one of the seven
deadly
sins--I'm green with envy!

Walt W2DU

James Philopena wrote:
I'm not sure, and some one else should chime in, but I am almost certain
that your radials should not be insulated from the ground. Magnet wire is
normally varnished and therefore insulated. Given your plan, chicken wire
would be better, and the cash value of the copper would more than pay for
it.

Hi Jim,

I'm pretty convinced that magnet wire on the surface is the way to go.
The RF won't have to go through lossy dirt on it's way to the radials
and they'll last for a long time. Chicken wire would rust up pretty fast..

Besides, the magnet wire was nearly free!
--
73,
HZ