wrote

Most verticals need radials, and the radials must be installed properly 4
r
adials are not good practice. My 20 some radial setup was not ideal, but
in
to diminishing returns. Since I installed them over time, I was able to
not
ice that the signals were not getting any louder, a rough and ready test
of
efficiency.

But verticals do work.

Yes, they do, when properly installed and configured --- according to all I
have read. ;-) (I have never used a vertical on HF.) Wasn't it Jerry
Sevick who years ago experimented with raised vs. buried radials? My
recollection (not to be trusted) is that four *elevated* 1/4 wave radials
work well. But if you cannot elevate them and must lay them on the ground or
bury them, then you need... a lot of them. I forget if he used 96 or 120 of
them.... Of course there are diminishing returns, and Michael's 20-radial
arrangement should be plenty adequate - as he demonstrated. In any case, you
just have to get the near field to become highly conductive for a vertical
to perform as it should.

Howard N7SO

On Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:09:26 EDT, "Howard Lester"
wrote:

My
recollection (not to be trusted) is that four *elevated* 1/4 wave radials
work well.

2-meter vertical antennas intended for use on the top of masts use
only 3 radials, and they work well. Four elevated radials also should
work.

Dick Grady, AC7EL

On Thursday, March 14, 2013 4:28:06 PM UTC-4, Dick Grady AC7EL wrote:
On Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:09:26 EDT, "Howard Lester"

wrote:


My recollection (not to be trusted) is that four *elevated* 1/4 wave radials
work well.

2-meter vertical antennas intended for use on the top of masts use
only 3 radials, and they work well. Four elevated radials also should
work.


Elevated tuned radials do work. If you are using a multiband vertical, it can make the yard look
a little funny though. My vertical is 6 bands, so I opted for buried radials, and given that the
antenna was not too far from a corner of the yard, they were really random in length. Some
over a hundred feet, some only around 20.

This probably meant that the antenna wasn't quite as efficient in a few directions as others.

Overall it worked pretty well.