"Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)" wrote in message
news

I just read the following on one of the mailing lists I subscribe to:

"Quarter wave ground mounted radials are a waste of wire and a hold over
from the olden days. Check the antenna handbook, the new philosophy is
more and shorter. The thing is that the bulk of the energy from the
vertical antenna is near the base of the antenna and this is what you are
trying to capture. A quarter wave radial sounds logical but the planet
will detune it so a quarter wave means nothing to the current."

What say you all?

Hi Rick

I have just tried an HF 80 metre ground mounted quarter wave vertical in
exactly the conditions you describe. The screen of the coax feedline is
grounded at the base of the antenna with a copper earth rod into very
conductive ground (effectively wet sand). The antenna impedence and
performance appeared identical whether or not quarter wave radials were
attached or not.

At a previous location with less conductive soil the radials did make a
difference.

A couple of quarter wave radials can certainly be effective and easier to
run out than a multitude of shorter wires circling the antenna. As usual it
all depends on the local conditions at your location and what you have
available to work with.

Mike G0ULI