Nobody's laughing at you -- it's a topic that's very poorly understood.

Here's how it works with buried radials. . .

It never hurts to make them longer. But beyond some distance, it doesn't
help appreciably -- if the current on a radial has dropped to a
negligible value at its end, extending it won't do anything.

What is this distance? Well, like so many other things, the only really
honest answer is that it depends. As it turns out, the current fades
more rapidly if you have only a few radials. So if you only have a few,
it doesn't help to make them super long. If you have a lot (say, 60 or
more), increasing the length has more effect -- but your system will
already be so efficient that it won't make much difference.

The classic set of measurements of various ground systems was published
in 1937 as "Ground Systems as a Factor in Antenna Efficiency" by Brown,
Lewis, and Epstein. Their paper has many graphs of the effectiveness of
various combinations of radial lengths and number of radials for various
vertical heights -- for the particular ground at the place of their
experiments, the characteristics of which weren't recorded. Their data
have been interpreted and reorganized countless times and in countless
ways -- a web search should bring you a lot of hits. But some rules of
thumb (and only rules of thumb) for amateurs(*) emerge:

1. There's not much point in making radials much longer than a
free-space quarter wavelength or so.

2. Increasing the number of radials from 16 to 120 or more will probably
net you less than a couple of dB. That might be worth it to you, it
might not.

These assume more-or-less average soil. If your soil is very dry, you
might benefit from more and/or longer radials.

And of course, there's no point in fussing over exact lengths. There's
no need to even make them the same length. Put down what you can and
don't worry about it. Putting in more won't hurt, nor will making them
longer. But you're not likely to notice much difference between a big
installation and a fairly simple one, unless your ground is
extraordinarily poor.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

(*) An increase in field strength of a few percent is a worthwhile
pursuit for AM broadcasters, because it increases the size of their
audience and hence the value of their advertising. Small increments like
that are completely useless for amateurs, though, so our goals are
somewhat different. Keep that in mind when looking through various
analyses and recommendations, since most are oriented toward broadcasters.


Charlie wrote:
I just want to thank all of you for your kindness and speediness in pointing
out my error as a new vertical antenna user. I am glad several of you had a
laugh on me for burying tuned radials. Thank you for your kindness and
courtesy. Hope to catch each and every one of you on the bands. I am
grateful for the tact and diplomacy that many of you showed me. True Ham
Spirit at it's best.

Based on what I have been told by the gentlemen in this great group I could
have used much shorter radials than any "tuned length". If that is right
then I have achieved a much more effective radial system then what I would
have had I not erred. Is this right? In other words I have more wire in the
ground then I need..right? Now if that is so..does that hurt or help

TY Roy

73 / DX

On Fri, 7 Jan 2005 21:18:45 -0600, "Charlie"
wrote:

|I just want to thank all of you for your kindness and speediness in pointing
|out my error as a new vertical antenna user. I am glad several of you had a
|laugh on me for burying tuned radials. Thank you for your kindness and
|courtesy. Hope to catch each and every one of you on the bands. I am
|grateful for the tact and diplomacy that many of you showed me. True Ham
|Spirit at it's best.
|
|Based on what I have been told by the gentlemen in this great group I could
|have used much shorter radials than any "tuned length". If that is right
|then I have achieved a much more effective radial system then what I would
|have had I not erred. Is this right? In other words I have more wire in the
|ground then I need..right? Now if that is so..does that hurt or help

I haven't followed this thread since its inception, but I did read
comments from you such as: "If length means nothing I could have gone
with 6 inch radials if I followed your logic...eh?" and "You're
entitled to your opinion on this seemingly controversial topic."

This came across as an attitude problem (further exemplified by your
sarcasm above) that precluded gentler handling of your inexperience,
by me anyway.

In the future, I suggest a more receptive attitude on your part might
elicit less hostile advice.

You did do a great installation job, however, and while you expended
more effort than necessary, it is not for naught.

If length means nothing I could have gone with 6 inch
radials if I followed your logic...eh?

I thought my "logic" said "make them all as log as possible". If the
manufacturs say cut radials to X length then lay them on the ground...then
they need to go back to school. One rule of thumb is: Try to make the radial
length at least equal to the heigth of the vertical. If the Hustler is 20'
tall, make the radials at least 20' long and use lots of them. Having 50
radials 20' long is better than 8 radials 500' long etc.
N4LQ



--
Steve N4LQ
"Charlie" wrote in message
...
What about the Hustler antenna instructions which provide the "correct
lengths" for cutting radials? Moreover they need not be "buried 2 inches"
in the ground but can safely remain on the ground once grass growth
effectively buries them. Also DX Engineering www.dxengineering.com has
ground radials for sale which are "pre-cut to length". I assume they know
what they are doing. Force 12 also recommends using "tuned radials" with
their line of vertical antennas. I assume they too know more about
antennas then I do.

I researched this topic before installing my 5-BTV and tuned radials were
always recommended. If length means nothing I could have gone with 6 inch
radials if I followed your logic...eh? My 5-BTV installation with 72
"tuned" radials at this page

1. http://www.ad5th.com/5-BTV.html

I am getting great reports so far but have only been on the air at this
qth for a couple weeks. A new AL-80B arrives in 3 days which should
improve my signal greatly. 73 / DX

--

Charlie
Ham Radio - AD5TH
www.ad5th.com
Live Blues Music
www.492acousticblues.com




"N4LQ" wrote in message
...
Why do hams persist on using "tuned" radials on the ground? They cut them
to "resonance" which means nothing. A wire cut for resonance on 40 meters
and buried under 2 inches of soil is no where near resonant 7mhz. It
would be much more effective if they just made all the radials as long as
possible and forget this resonance stuff but no one listens.

--
Steve N4LQ
"Roger Adam" wrote in message
...
Andy,

check out this site, it may you/someone else,

regards

http://www.ad5th.com/5-BTV.html



http://www.ad5th.com/5-BTV.html





I choose Polesoft Lockspam to fight spam, and you?
http://www.polesoft.com/refer.html

Thx Steve for that .....73

--

Charlie
Ham Radio - AD5TH
www.ad5th.com
Live Blues Music
www.492acousticblues.com




"N4LQ" wrote in message ...
If length means nothing I could have gone with 6 inch
radials if I followed your logic...eh?

I thought my "logic" said "make them all as log as possible". If the
manufacturs say cut radials to X length then lay them on the ground...then
they need to go back to school. One rule of thumb is: Try to make the
radial length at least equal to the heigth of the vertical. If the Hustler
is 20' tall, make the radials at least 20' long and use lots of them.
Having 50 radials 20' long is better than 8 radials 500' long etc.
N4LQ



--
Steve N4LQ
"Charlie" wrote in message
...
What about the Hustler antenna instructions which provide the "correct
lengths" for cutting radials? Moreover they need not be "buried 2 inches"
in the ground but can safely remain on the ground once grass growth
effectively buries them. Also DX Engineering www.dxengineering.com has
ground radials for sale which are "pre-cut to length". I assume they
know what they are doing. Force 12 also recommends using "tuned radials"
with their line of vertical antennas. I assume they too know more about
antennas then I do.

I researched this topic before installing my 5-BTV and tuned radials were
always recommended. If length means nothing I could have gone with 6
inch radials if I followed your logic...eh? My 5-BTV installation with 72
"tuned" radials at this page

1. http://www.ad5th.com/5-BTV.html

I am getting great reports so far but have only been on the air at this
qth for a couple weeks. A new AL-80B arrives in 3 days which should
improve my signal greatly. 73 / DX

--

Charlie
Ham Radio - AD5TH
www.ad5th.com
Live Blues Music
www.492acousticblues.com




"N4LQ" wrote in message
...
Why do hams persist on using "tuned" radials on the ground? They cut
them to "resonance" which means nothing. A wire cut for resonance on 40
meters and buried under 2 inches of soil is no where near resonant 7mhz.
It would be much more effective if they just made all the radials as
long as possible and forget this resonance stuff but no one listens.

--
Steve N4LQ
"Roger Adam" wrote in message
...
Andy,

check out this site, it may you/someone else,

regards

http://www.ad5th.com/5-BTV.html



http://www.ad5th.com/5-BTV.html





I choose Polesoft Lockspam to fight spam, and you?
http://www.polesoft.com/refer.html