Being the antenna is elevated, I wouldn't expect 8 ft
radials to work worth a hoot, except for 10m.
They need to be resonant. The "same height as
radiator, for usable performance" doesn't really apply
to elevated radials, that need to be resonant. Only
ground mount, will that work ok. Yes, a hat will always
help, but I would just string it with cheap wire, if it's
hidden away in an attic. If on a roof, you could hang
sloping top loading wires, that sloped towards some tie
off point. Or you could use a fancier hat setup....More
$$$ though. BTW....In theory, it should be possible to
use loaded radials...Or maybe a 2nd loaded element to
complete the antenna as a psuedo loaded dipole. ?? MK

Gud morning Mark Keith, You guys could make my life considerably less
complicated if you would just come up with an FM antenna design for my
screwdriver,...FM, that is Flippin Magic. Thats all I'm asking for
here, magic!
Kidding aside here, I think on the roof is out the question now. My
favorite wife just won't go with radials all over the roof.

I don't understand the "sloping top loading wires, that sloped towards
some tie point". You have a picture of something like this? It would
sure help me out trying to visualize this thing. You are trying to
educate a slow learning hombre down here,..pics go a long way. :-[

I can't tell you how much I appreciate you helping me out with this
little project. You have a good day and God bless.

Butch Magee KF5DE



wrote:

Being the antenna is elevated, I wouldn't expect 8 ft
radials to work worth a hoot, except for 10m.
They need to be resonant. The "same height as
radiator, for usable performance" doesn't really apply
to elevated radials, that need to be resonant. Only
ground mount, will that work ok. Yes, a hat will always
help, but I would just string it with cheap wire, if it's
hidden away in an attic. If on a roof, you could hang
sloping top loading wires, that sloped towards some tie
off point. Or you could use a fancier hat setup....More
$$$ though. BTW....In theory, it should be possible to
use loaded radials...Or maybe a 2nd loaded element to
complete the antenna as a psuedo loaded dipole. ?? MK

I don't understand the "sloping top loading wires, that sloped towards
some tie point". You have a picture of something like this?.......

Just visualize a upside down ground plane, with the radials on top,
instead of the bottom. That's about what it would look like. They could
slope a bit, and I don't think it would hurt too much. I think it will
be more
effective as a hat, if you can connect the ends of the wires to make a
outer
loop. But you don't have to do that. If you had it in the attic, and
the roof/
rafters were all wood, with no metal, you could have the tip of the
antenna
near the roof/rafters, and just run the hat wires along the rafters.
But ya still have to worry about those ground radials.......
It might be easier to make some kind of attic dipole, or loaded dipole,

using two elements back to back. That type antenna requires no
radials.
I have two attic antennas myself...One is a 2 m ground plane, hung from
the rafters, and the other is a 40m dipole, that is fed with 300 ohm
line
to my tuner. It will work 40-10 ok...It's kinda of a backup I can use
if the lightning is so bad in the area, that I don't want my regular
outside
antennas connected. I even unhook it, if it gets real close.
MK

wrote:

I don't understand the "sloping top loading wires, that sloped towards
some tie point". You have a picture of something like this?.......

Just visualize a upside down ground plane, with the radials on top,
instead of the bottom. That's about what it would look like. They could
slope a bit, and I don't think it would hurt too much. I think it will
be more
effective as a hat, if you can connect the ends of the wires to make a


SNIP--------------------

Ok, I'm going to try this as soon as I can get my son over to do the leg
work before the attic temperatures exceed 100 deg. or more. I am not
allowed to climb anymore and I do miss messing around with antennas and
sunshine and gulf breezes. Today would be perfect. I shall report back
my findings.

Butch KF5DE