I feel it more appropriate to say that the function of ground-mounted radials is to harvest the radiation from a vertical antenna that splashes on the ground and return it to the feed point for recycling.
72/73, Charles, W2SH ________________________________ From: Topband <topband-bounces+w2sh=msn....@contesting.com> on behalf of Jim Brown <j...@audiosystemsgroup.com> Sent: Monday, March 22, 2021 20:40 To: topband@contesting.com <topband@contesting.com> Subject: Re: Topband: New Subject: 160M array feedline question On 3/22/2021 2:41 PM, Carl Braun wrote: > Some brought up the idea of my ground mounted radials becoming submerged in > fresh water...however, that would only take place for a week or less during > the spring here and, it would only happen if we had a slow snow pack melt and > rain at the same time. The earth is a big resistor. Connecting to it BURNS transmitter power. What many folks miss is that the function of radials is to SHIELD the antenna's fields and return current from lossy earth, NOT to couple to it. The only part of the earth we want to carry return current or see a transmitting antenna's field is SEA water. 73, Jim K9YC _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector