I generally agree with you, Bob - especially with regard to not grounding the far ends of 1/4 wave radials!! After all what we are trying to establish is a low-impedance "image plane" for the vertical radiator to be fed against! A 1/4 wave wire, grounded at the far end would have a high impedance to ground at the base, or feed-point, of the antenna! Makes no sense! Would not result in a very favorable "driving-point impedance!
73, Charlie, K4OTV -----Original Message----- From: Topband [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bob Eldridge Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 3:46 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Topband: Grounding the ends of radials >I posted this on TowerTalk and I got a couple of responses as to why >the ends of ground radials should not be grounded. Isn't it dependent on whether you want the radials resonant or not? And if you do want them resonant, on the length of the radial? It doesn't make sense to ground the far end of a quarter wave radial if you want a low impedance at the base of the antenna. It does make sense if you have short radials and want to intercept the "return current". Bob VE7BS _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
