Over the years I found that the larger the diameter the better for radials.
When I was a lot younger (ham years, that is), and I was experimenting with my
first verticals (coaxial inverted Ls
on 160, 80, and 40), I found the following:
-- The antenna started to 'play' with three radials made of old coax (shield
shorted to center conductor at antenna
end).
-- When I used some number 28 which I thought was a great deal, it took
almost 40 radials before one of the
antennas started to play.
-- Stranded wire was a lot easier to work with.
-- It did not matter whether the wire was insulated or not.
-- I shied away from aluminum and galvanized because I had heard that they
may not last.
I presently have 2 coaxial inverted Ls on 160M, 2 on 80M, 4 on 40M and 4 on
20M. All have about 60 radials each
mostly composed of number 18 with a bit of number 12, 14, and 16 thrown in.
Whatever I could find that was
cheap. Plenty of old coax (RG6, RG58, RG8X, and RG8).
Good luck
73 Bruce, WA3AFS
On 12 Feb 2007 at 8:55, Steve Miller wrote:
> This may be the wrong place to ask (in which case, please direct me to
> the right one!) but I am interested to know what affect wire size has on
> a radial system. Must one use #14 stranded or will #26 insulated work
> okay. The plan is to make it capable of handling full legal power
> though I rarely use that. Will larger wire have any more of a
> broadband affect than smaller wire? My thoughts lean toward using 60
> radials. Thanks for your help!! Steve N0SM
>
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