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Re: [TowerTalk] 1/4 wave vertical with counterpoise

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 1/4 wave vertical with counterpoise
From: David Gilbert <ab7echo@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2026 15:09:02 -0700
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>


Jim, I can see where my wording could be interpreted incorrectly since the word "to" has multiple meanings, but that isn't what I said.  Read it instead as "alternative to the earth path".  That's less ambiguous, but I think the phrasing is really awkward.

Dave  AB7E



On 1/17/2026 2:49 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
On 1/17/2026 10:10 AM, David Gilbert wrote:
It does not need a radial system of wires to avoid loss.  It just needs an alternative path to the earth for near field return currents, and that can be had with a proper counterpoise.

NO! Radials do NOT provide a path to earth, which is a big resistor. They are a REPLACEMENT for earth as return for antenna current! A good radial system SHIELDS the antenna's EM field from lossy earth in the very near field.

In arrays like a 4-square, a good radial system serves to improve the balance between elements, with the primary effect of deepening the nulls, secondarily improving the forward gain.

73, Jim K9YC

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