Good Day Again All, Well, I've done my best to summarize all the respondents' comments in the matter of elevated vs. ground-mounted radials---and I'll try now to summarize these in a single-page format for benefit of all to see...
The results are certainly interesting, and some are as different from one another as we might be physically! In any event---and FWIW---here goes: (A) Is it true that a couple of elevated radials are just as effective as the "optimum" amount of buried ones...? -It depends. -Don't know. -Don't know. -If 2 or more are used, maybe. -It depends. (B) What is the "ideal" number of elevated radials that one should use...? -It depends upon their height. -2. -2 to 4. -7 to 8. -1 to 5. -2. -8. -1 to 2. -16 to 32. -16 to 32. -The more the better. -Any amount, but use pairs (ex. 2 to 4, 6 to 8, etc.). (C) How many elevated radials are "just enough"...? -Enough to overcome ground losses & establish resonance. -2. -2 -2. -2. -4. -4 (8 is overkill). -1. -32. -8. -Depends upon soil quality (D) How high should these radials be...? -The higher the better to clear pedestrians, animals, etc. -10'. -6' to 8'.-6' to 8'. -12' to 14'. -7' to 8'. -6' to 15'. -20'. -6' to 10'. -8'. -10' to 12'. -20'. -1' to 10' (but the higher the better). (E) Would it be a requirement that I raise the feedpoints of my "L's" to the same height as the elevated radials, or can I simply leave the bases where they are now (at ground level) & simply slant the radials upward with no effect upon performance...? -"Gull wing" arrangement OK. -Feed point should be 8' high. -Not sure. -Makes no difference. -"Gull wing" OK. -"Gull wing" OK. -Not sure. -Same height as radials (to minimize ground loss). -Makes no difference. -Optional. (F) Is it OK to bend the elevated radials to fit property allotments...? -Slight bends OK. -Yes. -Yes. -Yes. -Not sure. -Not sure. -OK, but gradual bends only. -No. -Yes. -Best kept straight. (G) What is the desirable length of an elevated radial...? -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Use short radials with a common coil. -Quarter wave + height above ground. (H) Should any existing connections to real earth at the base of the "L's" (i.e. a ground pipe) be completed severed with a system of elevated radials...? -If radials one quarter wave long, makes no difference. -No ground. -No ground. -With a ground, there'll be noise on receive. -NEVER ground. -No ground. -No ground. -No ground. -No ground. -No ground. Additionally, four respondents recommended using a choke balun at the feedpoint...one person avowed that a single elevated radial was the equivalent of 30 ground radials...another stated that 8 elevated radials were "super good", but that even 1 to 2 would be good...another affirms that one simply can not beat the optimal number of buried radials... Several recommended this site as an excellent reference as well: http://www.antennasbyn6lf.com/2012/02/elevated-radial-ground-systems-some-cautions.html I personally haven't taken a look at it myself here, but it is most certainly on my "to do" list! I hope my effort here might help dissipate some of the "fog" surrounding elevated radials, vs. ground-mounted ones---certainly there's stuff here that I wanna digest still...and again, I thank one & all for their feedback, & trust that I've done justice here to your many responses... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _________________ Topband Reflector
