Just wonder if anybody out there has experimented and compared inverted L
performance with elevated vs buried radials, particularly on 160 meters.

73s,

Evan

(K9SQG) wrote in message ...
Just wonder if anybody out there has experimented and compared inverted L
performance with elevated vs buried radials, particularly on 160 meters.

73s,

Evan

You would need to get them fairly high off the ground to really do
well.
160 is no different from any other band as far as ground losses vs
height above ground. The height in wavelength and number of radials
for a certain degree of efficiency is pretty well cut and dry. In
order to use a fairly low number of elevated radials and have high
efficiency, you must have the antenna at least about a 1/4 wave high.
At a 1/4 wave up, about 10 or so radials will equal 120 on the ground.
But a 1/4 wave on 160m is 130 ft...
You only need about 3-4 radials at 1/2 wave up to do the same thing...
At around 1/8 wave up, you would need appx 60 radials to equal 120 on
the ground. And thats still 65 ft high at the base of the antenna...So
I'd scratch the elevated radials unless you have a tall tower to
support the vertical.
Unless you want a load of wires hiding the view of the sky, you would
be better off planting them on the ground. If you try using a low
number of them, and real low to the ground, like say 5-10 ft, the
efficiency will be pretty low. Almost as bad as no radials.. MK

Hi Evan. I haven't done a scientific comparison, but am currently using two
resonant elevated radials with my inverted L on 160. They're only 8-10 feet
off the ground. I'm sure the efficiency is rather low, but I've worked into
JA land a couple of times with it and did quite well on 160 last season.
The herd of deer living in the back woods, as well as the lay of the land
make radials on the ground rather difficult for me. Based on my experience
of last year, I'd say the two raised radials do better than the 8 radials I
had on the ground in previous years. Of course, both situations are far
from optimum on 160, but since I can work everything I can hear (no
beverages), I'd say the antenna is adequate.

K8AC
Floyd in Angier, NC

"K9SQG" wrote in message
...
Just wonder if anybody out there has experimented and compared inverted L
performance with elevated vs buried radials, particularly on 160 meters.

73s,

Evan