Gary wrote:
I'm thinking of tossing up a G5RV and perhaps using it at times on 160
meters by shorting the braid and center conductor. What do I need for
buried radials ? Will several 40' - 50' radials work satisfactorially
or would one ~125' radial be best ? I could run a 125' radial but not
in a straight line

Several shorter radials will definitely be better than a single long one.

I'm planning on using No. 14 Ga solid insulated wire. I think I've
read in this newsgroup that the buried wire doesn't have to be bare ?

Yes, that's correct.

Also does anyone have a more elegant way of shorting the inner
conductor and braid together than the half axxed contraption I'd
cobble together ?

It's hard to say how to make something better than something for which
we have no description. Surely it can't be too hard to short two
conductors together.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL