Every time this subject comes up I post this link - Another solution to
attaching radials -
http://www.w4nja.org/HomeBrew/KO4XJ-Vertical-Radial-Bracket-20091206.htm
I use one singular bar on my vertical and it provides a way to replace a
radial without dragging out the torch and liquid tape (my old way).
Clint Talmadge - W5CPT
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Michael Goins
Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2011 10:06 AM
Cc: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] soldering radials (or any outdoor connection)
Ideal, quite possibly. Practical and/or necessary for most hams, not really.
And how many new hams will see this and think "Wow. There's no way I could
put up a vertical. I don't know how to braze (or have the money to spend to
do so)."
There are literally thousands of hams worldwide with regular soldered
radials and not all the connections "immediately dissolved into a white
powder." Radials soldered with silver solder and with regular solder and
some just clamped and bolted. Depends considerably on whether the radials
are buried, pinned to the grass, the type of wire and gauge, location of the
station, acidity/alkalinity of the soil, potential weather, etc.
Heaven only knows how many hams use commercial or some version of homemade
radial plates and have never have any issue with them. Me included, and for
many, many years. When checked with a ratchet and socket occasionally, they
were all as tight as when I did them initially. And not all of us have
freeze-thaw-freeze cycles that would ever loosen a connection, or one
antenna that we put up 30 years ago that we would continue to use (part of
the fun is using different antennas - at least for some of us).
Do what works for you. If the soldered connections do seem to deteriorate,
then do something else, if the antenna is a permanent one. Silver solder,
use a plate, or possible braze next time. Or elevate the vertical and use a
counterpoise - often works much better anyway.
One opinion. Mine.
mike, k5wmg
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