3 Rules - Quick Tip - Radials for Ground Mounted Vertical Antennas

Simple to follow, 3 basic rules; length, numbers and location. Ham Radio does not have to be complicated. In this video, I bring the topic of ground mounted radials for vertical antennas down to an easy-to-follow theory. Enjoy. And please contribute to the discussion. 73 Callum.
More Videos:
▶️ • Antenna Modelling Antenna Modelling
▶️ • Tips and Tricks Tips and Tricks
▶️ • Antennas Antennas
▶️ • Live Streams Live Streams
▶️ • Commander World My Stuff
▶️ • Foundation Training Ham Radio Training

[@w7thebaofengdude626]

A little late to the radial party, but I put up a dx classic with 21 3 meter long radials that were placed 180 degrees facing north ( the antenna was up against a fence). And I worked all of South America, South Pacific, Antarctica, South Africa on 100w . Half the time, my dogs would turn my radial field into a spaghetti bowl and I wouldn't even know it! Callum is right as always, just get them on the dirt and hit that tx button.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Good work!!!

[@brettuk]

this is an experimental hobby and i hope more people see this video because it gets you on the air - there is no need to despair (with perfectionism).

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Perfect comment!

[@NebukedNezzer]

there was a ham in texas w5pyt. he knew and shared a lot. how to tell if your antenna is efficient. with a measured power like 5 watts. read the antenna current with a current meter(make one). when you stop getting improvements in antenna current stop adding ground radials.

[@johnfernandez7221]

I like the drumset in the background. Been a ham for almost 35 yrs,always learning,always having fun.

[@g4lmn-ron401]

With my Signature 9 I put 24 radials out in a rough circle, they are each 3 metres long (mostly). Works really well on all bands.

[@J0HN3]

Just bought a classic and also did 24 radials, 4 per lug, 6 lugs, at 3meters length. Excellent results. SWRs were near perfect across the board from 70cm up thru 40m.

[@W7AWE]

Callum … Absolutely true. I have the expedition with 10, 12, 17, 20, 30 & 40/15 m bands. My radials are “alligator clips” with 4 - 12’ (old money) wire bundles. I clip the 4 wire bundles on the base plate for faster deployment and it gives me a 16 wire radial field. I use it for POTA activations and have deployed the radial field all in a 90 degree area of the base for a couple activations. The radial field was pointed towards the west and I had no problem on SSB making contacts along the east coast and Europe for a contest. I live in Tucson, Arizona for reference. It really proved to me the position of the radial field isn’t all that important. Thank you for another great video. Keep them coming!

[@bigmartin]

The alligator clips is a fantastic idea, cheers!

[@W9HJBill]

I put down 1000 feet of radials. I didn't sweat the length. Some are 8 feet long, some are 40 feet long. I just put as much wire down in the space I had. I've worked 170 confirmed countries (and about a dozen more unconfirmed). I think in a past video Cal said something like 2-3 times your lowest band in radial length is all you need.

[@Dap8998]

Thank you Callum!!!! Now my head won’t explode from overthinking this 🤣🤣

[@Tommy_Boy.]

Callum! I love, love, love that you said that it doesn't matter! 👍We know what you mean ... "put that copper out there and go use your radio". I love it because many will say that's incorrect and may be losing their mind over your statement. However, if you try some of these ideas yourself, you realize it "does" work. 👍 I really love what/how you share, preach, suggest, encourage, inspire, etc. with your videos! I see you as a huge asset to our wonderful hobby of amateur radio and you've greatly improved my enjoyment with it as well. Thanks for often inspiring me buddy! 🙏👍📻⚡Cheers🍺, Tom - WA7FLY

[@DXCommanderHQ]

That's it!

[@mikeoswald8053]

I've put up the DX Commander Classic twice and on opposite ends of the US. Both times I used the radial pattern and lengths suggested by Callum's instructions and the antenna has worked very well. As to the radials "disappearing into the grass", let me give my 2 cents worth. Ground staples are important to allow the radials to lay flat. The staples aren't that expensive; buy some extra at the garden store if need be. Finally don't cut the grass as close as you're used to for a few weeks, raise the cutting height of the mower, especially if your garden/lawn is primarily St. Augustine grass. That type of grass is considered a weed in many states but is common in the southern US. St."A" loves to push back against anything laying upon it, however, if allowed to grow to a 3 1/2-4" blade height the grass will "relax" it's grip on the radial and allow it to sink to the dirt. Adjust the mower height as need be and all is well! AA7MO

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Perfect!

[@DukeDave1]

Thank-you Lord Callum. Great video no use just letting the radio collect dust. Get some radials down and get on the air. Great advice.

[@jameski5oeb668]

Fun story from field day. I put my 80m wire on my DX Commander Classic just before sunset. I disconnected all the radials, 7 sets of four wires each at 4.5meters each. After attempting to tune the 80 meter as a sloper with an analyzer and forgetting to reattach my radials, I put the band pass filter back on for 15m and worked 15m until midnight. Our club in Enid OK got New Zealand for field day on the DXCommander without a single radial actually clipped to the baseplate! DX Commander Classic 80-10 for the win! Also I got Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, West Washington State, and many more contacts mostly on 15m without a radial… at least 20 distant contacts. Testimonial done!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Woops! Mind you, you would only have been about 3-6dB down on real output with that set up. The coax at least was ONE radial!

[@marlomontanaro3233]

Thank you for saying this Callum!!! Finally. The bottom line is the base of a ground mounted vertical is a current node. More metal closer to the base of the antenna will allow for better conductivity at that point... more radials.... The current node is where the antenna radiates from!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Well said!

[@bigmartin]

Phew, honestly this has meant more to me than you can imagine. I've just bought a Hustler 5BTV and was wrecking my brains as to how I could get down the type of radial system most people bang on about. I'm living in a Dublin housing estate, my garden is small enough and cobbled too.. Thanks man de EI3LG

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Think simple. It'll work :)

[@Dave-VK5PL]

in the process of putting down about 32 x 3m radials for my vertical, so this has confirmed that my doubts were not neccessary.

[@Patmosphere]

this is the perfect video to 'find first' as I just began digging around for information on radials if I were to get a mfj-1979 whip. Thank you and 73 - KC1NNR

[@davidportch8837]

excellent real world advice Callum....

[@ThrawnFett123]

I'm FCC certified several times over. I could design a perfect antenna to talk to Moscow at high noon from Nebraska. I don't have to, I don't want to, and I can wait until 1am where the ionosphere let me anyway with any good antenna. People, including me, get hung up on the BEST thing we can design or make. But it realistically will never EVER come up to max spec. Be it radio or art, you have to eventually say "this is the best I can make, in the time I can make it in"

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Haha. Yes, I used to be the same. Ultimate gain, best F/B etc..!

[@justincase9638]

About to pull the trigger on a Hustler 4BTV, - this was the most informative and useful elmer information on the net. Thank You!

[@timprice1284]

Callum, I am with you in this one!

[@TI2GBB]

I have 16 radials on my DX commander Rapide system installed in a corner of my small yard ( I live in a HOA area) and... I took one extra radial and I connected it to my metal roof. .. The Performance is outstanding! 73s de TI2GBB GREG 🇨🇷

[@GroundControl204]

Great video, sat and drank my coffee to this and learned something. Thanks Cal 73🇺🇸

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@sm6yec]

Thanks Callum!

[@oldbassist60]

I could not agree with you more. You are 150% spot on.

[@ActinOut]

Thank you for all your research (and clarification) into all of this and that you share the benefits of your the rest of us.

[@contactmiller]

I used 17 radials that are 17 feet long. A few are a little shorter due to the house. I had 250 feet of dog fence wire and used almost all of it. Seems to work pretty good. The earth diffuses the ground plane so you don't need to worry about tuning. If your vertical is elevated then the radials need to be tuned to each band you are planning to use and measured exactly.

[@d3jake]

Love the video Callum. I appreciate the condensed video to top off all of your others on the topic. Cheers!

[@happyhome41]

"more confidence" BINGO !!! Applies to so many facets of life. Thank you ! Last word first: "Put a few down. See how it works. Let us know."

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Boom!

[@radioaxe6964]

Top advice. My experience precisely 👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Great to hear!

[@CrookedCreekWanderer]

I have not put much effort into putting up a vertical over the years because of the "need a bazillion radials" folklore. Now, after watching quite a few of your videos, I am looking at scratch building a three or four band DX COMMANDER. Thanks for all the info, Callum!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Nice challenge!

[@CrookedCreekWanderer]

@@DXCommanderHQ Got the DX Commander clone built. 10m-40m with eighteen 5m radials. Used it for the Indiana QSO party making contacts out to the US west coast, east coast, southern states and I even worked some Euro DX. It works, Cal!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

@@CrookedCreekWanderer Lovely!

[@dondonaldson1684]

A hand-held (aka handie-talkie) has no radials except for the iron in the blood of its holder and it works fine. Some radials is easily enough on a vertical. Great video Cal!!!

[@BartVanAllen]

Very nice - follows the results others give on PRACTICAL advice, not schoolbook theory. Thanks Callum (I have found the same thing with my old 5BTV - still 1~2 S units less than the 80M OCF, but it still does low angle radiation needed here and there)

[@g0fvt]

Great balanced advice. beyond a handful it soon gets into a diminishing returns situation.

[@gaptastic]

Thanks Callum! Overcoming analysis paralysis is hard, especially if you're a noob like me. But I'm getting there. In my head there's only one way to find out, just do/try it. People need to calm the fuck down, we're just hobbyists. The minute it's not fun, I'm out ... I'll go play my musical instruments.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Brilliant!

[@ths3900]

Thank you! Great explanation

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Nice one!

[@johnpawlicki1184]

One year for my portable antenna I wound a coil on a wire with my 20 foot crappie pole. Used a 9:1 unun and various lengths of wire radials whateven worked. Carried several wire lengths and tuned the wires. Worked fine. Much better than a base loaded vertical. 73.

[@matsherwood6277]

Thank you very much for this video. It saved me a lot of time in research.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

You are welcome!

[@housesOTR]

Thank you so much.

[@earlymann1954]

I have a 36 foot vertical (in 5 sections that screw together) that I used when I lived in Cameroon. I had NO radials at all, but it WAS grounded with some serious copper braid to a ground rod and it worked well, in spite of not having radials. It sat on a ledge of the house at about 10 feet off the ground. I used an Icom AT4 with it. I was able to tune it from 160 to 10 meters and used it a lot with good signal reports. Also had a 2 ele Mosley triband at about 60 foot elevation, also well grounded which did quite well in spite of the house being surrounded by houses at higher level than mine, except to the east of my qth. I was in an area probably about 40 ft lower than everything to the west and northwest, but to the east was okay. 73's from ex TJ2US and ex J5UAI, now kb0jqc

[@siti7797]

Good video Callum, I have a Sandpiper Hf Vertical vertical with twenty seven 2.5meter radials and it works fine 80 - 6m. 73's

[@EmJayArr]

All true. For my scrap 20m vertical contest submission, I had enough for 21 radials that were only about 1/12th wavelength long, for a total of 1.75 wavelengths of radials. It worked great!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Brilliant!

[@RF_Burns]

I doubled my radials and I definitely noticed a difference... that I was 40 quid out of pocket, and I had backache all weekend!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

You noticed..? OK, great. Poor back though! :)

[@RF_Burns]

@@DXCommanderHQ No, going from 100 meters to 200 meters I noticed no difference to signal strength... but I certainly noticed the backache!

[@michaelpowell782]

My camp trailer portable antenna is a 40' fiberglass Spiderbeam mast. I have a 4" diameter black PVC pipe about 30" in high mounted to the rear trailer bumper using a spare tire carrier. I put the mast in the PVC pipe and hoist it up with a small pully at the tip and paracord strung. I host up the same DX commander sized vertical elements for the individual bands I want to work. I throw out 16 x 16' foot radials and also have a ground cable to the trailer frame. I have set this up at home and have done an A/B switch between my 80-10M multiband wire vertical with 48 ground radials and the camper trailer antenna. On 40m and 15m there is a very slight difference in receive signal with the the multiband/48 radials over the 40/15m single element with 16 x 16' foot radials. Signal reports from contacts were the same on ant A or B on both 40M and 15M.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Nice example!

[@keithleggett5427]

Hi Cal, my Classic has been up nearly 4 years now with 6x4 bundles of radials cut into the grass delivering dx into Antarctica, Hawaii, Alaska VK & ZL. All radial lengths as recommended by you and the added bonus is unlike chicken wire (in the 70's) they will not rot over time. 😂 Great video by the way .

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Tnx Keith.

[@HowToHam_Tom]

May I ask where you are? That's GOOD stuff there...

[@davidcampbell4206]

KF7SFU Radials Rock, use what you have , sometimes more is not better. Good job Cal

[@VE7IRR]

I have a Classic and 25 x 3.5 meter radials configured in a semi circle (180 degrees) as I have mounted the antenna against the fence in the back yard here in the West Coast of Canada. I did this to eliminate the need for guy wires. I get outstanding results in all compass points. I thought I would have troubles in the direction, but such is definitely not the case. As Callum says, just get the wire on the ground! Cheers from VE7IRR.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Nice one Ron.

[@ZeroHarry]

Lord Callum, good honest point of view. Personally, I’ve found that if you pour your warm beer over the radials, it will vastly improve signal propagation. See here in Australia we don’t drink warm beer so it’s a no brainer during summer. Try it for yourself, put up a sign near your ground radials during your next BBQ. Pour warm beer here!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Next time! LOL

[@ChrisCookTech]

32x 17ft radials for my 12.4 and it works great!

[@migalito1955]

Last summer I neededed a quick bamboo vertical for 20 meters using speaker wire as the radiator. I did not have enough wire for radials, but had two good sized pieces of wire fabric with 1/4 inch grids. Sat the vertical over the fabric and connected the shield to it and wala we had a perfectly functional antenna for the needed moment.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Nice work!

[@dandypoint]

Good info. I thought I would add my experience here. On 160 meters, since 2001, I have used a 165 to 180 foot inverted L with usually 2 radials. Sometimes none (2014-2017) and occasionally three (2013-2014). I worked over 700 QSOs in 160 meter contests with no radials in 2014 and 2017. I worked over 800 with I think three radials but it may have been two in 2013. I definitely worked 874 QSOs with only two radials in 2012. At my current QTH, I have a ground rod at the base of my 160 meter inverted L and always one, sometimes two radials. Good enough for 450 to 600 plus QSOs in most 160 contests since 2019 without many hours of effort. I do also hold 160 meter DXCC with the inverted L and it’s “substandard radial” system! So the antennas with a minimal ground system do work and pretty good at that. The ground or radial system make up half of the antenna in antenna systems where they are necessary. A simple ground rod should in most cases be significantly less effective than having radials. I am not sure you can always tell much difference. The quality of the ground out in front of the vertical, about which you can do absolutely nothing to fix, is a major factor in vertical performance. Reducing ground loses at the base of the vertical is within the things you can do. We do that with a “good ground”. Whatever that means. Sometimes things are so good that a ground rod by itself works really good. Sometimes only a few radials seem to be enough. Sometimes we don’t know when to stop. In any case it’s always a case of diminishing returns. However, on 160 meters I have never used more that three radials for one reason or another! 73 de N4DJ

[@ke4edd]

I like this advice. My QRZ page shows the antenna I've used to make contacts in 12 countries not counting my own and 17 United States. At the time, it was a not-quite-quarter-wave wire pulled from the ground into a tree. The "radials" was a ground rod driven 8 feet into the dirt. I'm told by a fellow on QRZ forums that there's a lot of loss into the ground this way, but I made it a quarter of the way around the world with 20 watts peak envelope. Granted the other guy had a 100 element stacked super yagi pointed right at me but still... Point is, that wire-and-ground-rod got me on the air and got me the majority of the contacts I've made in the two months I've been on HF. I now am adding radials out of #24 AWG Ethernet cable wire and replaced the 8 foot ground rod with one about 3 1/2 feet long. Should have less ground loss, but I haven't had this new setup long enough to make a determination that it performs any better... but I'm confident it will prove itself.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OK, so that grounbd rod will do nothing really. Disconnect it temporarily and do a test with a local friend. EVERYTHING works, it's just how well you want it. You could probably double your effective radiated power with some short radials.

[@SteveBrace]

I laid out 60-something radials, without pegging them down, on my DX Commander for one very good reason: My calculations showed that I'm a clumsy b'stard with the lawn mower and I knew that most of them would end up in the grass box... I think I'm down to about 30 so far!

[@SteveBrace]

Oh and I also nicked my rather expensive M&P UltraFlex 10 feeder with the mower!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Haha! Hey Steve.. pin them down.. I did with mine and they were literally gone inside 2-weeks..

[@nvrumi]

Callum, I saw you talk about this a couple-three years ago. I got Severns' papers and read them all. It is good stuff and he does the technicals as well as the practicals. At that time I quit worrying about the ground field and just made sure I had enough wires on the ground (16). I don't have a DX Commander (yet), but use this with a WRC system. I plan on building a set for my Chameleon MPAS 2.0 for vertical deployment. Now I need to see if the Signature 9 antennas are in stock. 😛

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Haha.. Yeah, SIg 9s in stock :)

[@hshpegel]

Hi Callum, many thanks for this video. Its getting warm enough for me to put up my new DX Commander and every time I thought about the radials, it just got all fuzzy. Never really got what I trying to do but this c,eared it up.

[@pibble3962]

I had a happy laugh and learned from your video. I think you are so right.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@danlazer8762]

Love this. The big point of all of this stuff is to just have fun. Life is too serious too much of the time. I’ve even put down one radial and have had solid contacts hundreds of miles away in the “wrong” direction. Yes, there is a sweet spot somewhere but just get outside and experiment.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Absolutely!!

[@DavidMitchell79]

I have been reading on the vertical antenna and ground system topic. If I understand/comprehend correctly, the radials merely decrease losses in the ground image (acts as a dipole, vertical radiates and a mirror image in the ground makes up the other half of the dipole) by reducing the resistance of the ground. "The ground acts as a lossy capacitor" is how they describe it. That being said, the radials would counteract that by 1. Reducing the resistance and 2. By adding inductance to counteract the capacitance of the soil. I could have misunderstood my reading. But it does seem to explain why more of the shorter radials would work. Thanks for the vids, Callum. You are a true "Elmer" and a ham couldn't ask for a better mentor (or "experi-mentor")!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I suppose that's the complex way of looking at it, yes :)

[@richardmillican7733]

People with a fear of spiders won't like this video! 😂

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Oh yes!

[@Sys-Edit0r-1995]

I built a PAC-12 antenna and use 4 radials. I live on the second floor of my apartment and have a small deck. The wires droop down over the deck, so far the downstairs neighbor hasn't complained. I also built 4 loading coils for the radials and I think it might have helped at least with SWR. The apartment complex is a little electrically noisy so I haven't try making contracts yet. I also built a AM broadcast coil compatible with my PAC-12 and I can get it to tune to 1.610MHz at 1.2 SWR (checked with my VNA) for my part 15 transmitter. 73 de David KEØPBI :3

[@MakeDoAndMend1]

I make my own aerials etc. Still learning but find like you say as long as you have ground radials it works. But working wit concrete or paving slabs. I just use more radials and sometimes stick tent pegs into ground on the ends electrically connected. Cheers from old George. Ps keep up the videos . Just grateful stuff.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks for sharing

[@DJCee1973]

Well Said Callum!! To put this into perspective here is my antenna, with which I have reached across the pond to places like Bulgaria, Poland, Spain, Slovenia and Kuwait!! from Ontario Canada with only 12 watts TX and a 17.5 foot vertical EFHW (Thanks to Walt K4OGO) with an LDG 4:1 unun a 1:1 home brewed inline choke with 6 ferrite sleeves and 5 10 foot radials! As you said just put some wire down and you will hear the results! Much Love, Chris VA3COJ

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Good stuff!

[@rstiosejo]

Thanks Callum 🎉. I finally understand the layout of the radials. My head has been spinning on this since I bought my Classic last year Black Friday Special. Haven't installed it as of yet. Got the # cubes for bands, Cline wire stripper, Milwaukee 100' measuring tape and a 4' PVC to insert the Mast on it. I will give a report on this as soon as I'm deployed already. Stay Safe 73 Ruben KD6CWI

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Do it! :)

[@rstiosejo]

@@DXCommanderHQThanks Callum. Have a wonderful week. Stay safe 73 Ruben KD6CWI

[@bubbajeph]

Thank you for element clarity. I have down 32 radials at 7 meters each. I do not have to any more. Waiting on the lay over base you mentioned in one of your videos l. Then tighten down the guides at two levels. 18 mph breeze will not take it down again.

[@mewrongway]

Awesome Callum! I got 32 at 4m on my 12.4.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

You HAVE been watching a lot of my videos! :)

[@mewrongway]

@@DXCommanderHQ Trying to catch up lol.

[@krisraps]

Well, This Makes It Easy !

[@EvgeniX.]

well I like the message here in this one 👌

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Tnx!

[@jackK5FIT]

My Classic with 80m works great with 32, 3 meter radials laid at 360 degrees. Swr is under 1.5 on all bands except 80 and it's about 1.8 in the voice portion. My radial length was determined by the available space. Like you said, it just works. Jack K5FIT

[@wassman27]

I have been using 21 3 meter on both my classic and expedition and both get great DX consistently. My classic is a permanent install and they cover 360 however I have had my expedition is several configurations and never noticed a difference. I would agree don't over think it and focus more on getting your tune right where it needs to be.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Nice comment!

[@pd5wve]

My idea indeed. i have different lenght of radials in the past and always 16 or 24 radials. and i can't say wich is working better. i do now 3,5 or 4 meter lenght. Thx for the explanation. you made me enthousiast with your you tubes. 73' Willem PD5WVE

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks for sharing!

[@g1hwy]

Agreed! 👍 My Hustler 6BTV has no radials more than 5metres and a lot are less than 3metres. Made them to fit the area and they work very well 80 to 10metres At one time I tried some 10metre ones but no difference when they were removed.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, I found same.

[@mikeymouse4629]

Thank you so much for making this video. Funny story, though - I have a Chameleon MPAS 2.0 set up in the vertical mode (~ 22' high with a cap hat half way down - attached to a 500watt 5:1 (I believe) unun, which is then attached to a 1' ground spike for support). It came supplied with a sigle 20' 'counterpoise/radial ... OK - set up in that configuration, the swr (as tested on my RigExpert analyzer) was ~ 2.8 @ 40m, then dropped in a 'parabolic curve' to ~ 1.8 @ 20m, then rose and plateaued ~ 2.5 @15-10m, then rose up past 3@6m. Then, I added 8 x 16' (1/8 lambda @ 40m == 1/4 lambda @ 20m) radials in a 360 degree circle - straight, no bends or overlaps. Guess what - the swr shot up to over 6.3@ 40m, dropped down to 1.5@ 20m, then shot back up to over 3.0 by 10m. Chameleon didn't have any answers as to why this happened, so it looks like I have a 'Radial-Tuned' Vertical Antenna - No Coils Required 🙂

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Apparently Chameleon don't answer many tech questions. So their customers email ME!

[@mikeymouse4629]

@@DXCommanderHQ Subtle ! 🙂 Oh, BTW., you had suggested that I ask Chameleon for a 'far field' plot of their MPAS 2.0 (in the vertical config.) when I was wondering if their 'cap hat' raised or lowered the 'takeoff angle' (required for DX). Well, as I recall, they said that the cap hat should pull the current up the antenna somewhat, but how that would affect the takeoff angle they didn't know, and that it would bee too expensive and not cost effective to create a 'far field' plot. They pointed out that this antenna was meant for man-portability, rapid setup and reliable NVIS-type communication within a few hundred miles. And that it was not meant for DX communications. Fair enough, but I like to experiment and see how I can 'push things'. 🙂 Thank you for all your previous advice on this.

[@graememorgan6120]

DX Commander Classic with 32 x 3.1m radials works fine 80m and up.

[@timkeene2717]

Back when I first got my ham ticket in the 70's I never really liked or trusted verticals. Not sure why. Guess i thought they were a compromised antenna. Maybe because the ones I saw used had a crappy radial system. Not sure why. Once I put up my DXC classic. I was sold. I have (25) 12'ish foot (3.6m-3.8m) radials. It kicks butt on 40m and 30m and is pretty decent on 20m. Thanks Callum!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Fabulous!

[@snokones]

I've got 32x 10m radials on my 12.4m and 24x 3m radials on my Rapide. Both work perfectly.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Posh!

[@pc4ad]

I did an experiment quite a while ago to reduce the radial field by create a 'swirl' of radials around the antenna. That does not work as I was hoping. Just make your radials as straight as possible. Around a corner is fine, but not in a swirled form. Scientifical - I tested with WSPR, transmitting 1W, straight and swirled switched time after time. Some stations were repeatedly down by 10-12dB while others came up just a banana or 2, so barely an improvement there. As straight as best as you can works (for me) best. Just my 2 pence :-)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

That is very intereeting Anton.

[@kyhwana]

I have a hustler 6btv as my main antenna, 100w through it, in ZL. My radials are a bunch of 4m wires pointed mostly south and I can make SSB contacts to VK on 40-10m no problem!

[@garryhammond3117]

When I run portable (camping) I run a 17 foot vertical with three (roughly equally spaced) 33 foot radials on 20 m and always get excellent results. Often better than with my 102 foot doublet at 40 feet above gnd at my home QTH. So, I agree - raadials, although necessary, are overrated. - A person could probbaly do quite well with only one radial, so the antenna has a basic counterpoise, and that's it. - Cheers!

[@minahasa999]

My vertical antenna is a 9 meters fishing mast, long/random wire fed by 9:1 unun, with 16 radials, only 2-3 meters each, since that's what available in my crowded city lot. Needs tuner, but works 80-10m no complaints.

[@che59v]

Callum, WOW, 2 dB loss? the self-appointed HAM -Police (made of selected "professional" hams) will be after you, while missing a heartbeat. lol Thanks for the video, and yes agreed 100%, some of us need to chill-out and go out and try building an antenna (any) and start enjoying the hobby and gain experience.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Well said

[@allyburg7145]

Worked for me 😂

[@claytonaudiopro]

I used a single ham stick (vertical) with a mobile mount screwed to the metal railing of my apartment balcony and got contacts all over the world. Using a 12 foot metal railing as a ground plane. All day everyday for like 6 months. 😂 even as low as 80m

[@calvinlong1265]

I really enjoy your videos! Quick question, can you use copper clad aluminum core wire for radials?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes you can! Any wire actually. Literally ANYTHING.

[@todkapuz]

I have a small yard.... maybe 3 by 5 meters or so..... and most of the time I've operated I've had around 8 radials in a 90 degree arc (antenna is in corner) and got DXCC, WAS, etc on it... this year due to some issues, I've only got 1 proper radial (most of the radials i placed in lawn have over time been destroyed by mowing, and so have 1 ever-so-slightly above the ground (like an inch) and I've completed 40,30,20 band DXCC and not very far from completing 15,12, 10... bit further on 17 but just has felt I've had really bad luck on timing there and generally has been a harder band for me some reason. So yeah... its doable with less. Never going to compete with big-gun stations, but still getting on the air the priority number one... and its all about getting something that radiates up. God I'd love a lawn i could put 360 degree quarter wavelengths etc etc etc... but yeah... not likely any time soon.

[@atown4428]

I have space in the yard so I cut 30 at 65’. I’ve yet to test it but I hope to know that the snow is leaving NY. With the antenna in the center of the yard the most east west radials will have to go through my metal pig wire fence. I’m wondering if I should curl those few around so they stay away from the fence. I’ll definitely check it both ways either way.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

You are overthinking it again! HAHA.. Just poke through the fence - or cut them back. Won't matter and you will never know :)

[@chrisbartlett6022]

I am very lucky in the fact I have a garden big enough and a forgiving XYL to mess about with my antennas. My First Classic I think I had 20 5m long radials, because I wanted to bury them and I got fed up with doing it :-) My Classic worked fine, I then added 20 10m long ones on the ground, my Classic worked fine, NO noticeable difference, I cut the 10m long ones up and messed about, have ended up with about 80 radials between 3 and 5m long. Still no noticeable difference. I did find a difference upgrading to a 12.4 Sig though but that is because it is a different pole. What am I trying to say? Same a Cal, put down what you can, if you have a set up like Cal then do what he has don, all you need to do is whatever you can do and get on the air. Get a tune around 2 to 1 or whatever you can get and talk to folks. Be lucky, be good and enjoy yourselves.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Nice one Chris.

[@fm71450]

Dear Callum, thank you for this clear explanation. Have you considered using metal window screen in lieu of wire radials? Or, have you tried using (aluminum) window screen? If so, please describe what occurred. All the best

[@DXCommanderHQ]

No I haven't. It'll work though.

[@bluestarindustrialarts7712]

Im setting up mine with 28 3 meter radials. 4 on each of the 7 lugs. I did run short of wire for the last lug so Ill get 40' more at HD. I only used enough element wire for 40, 20,17,15, 12,and 10. I will order more wire from DX and use the 30m slot for an 80m inverted L. I have an 80m EFHW thats working pretty good now, My intent is to leave both antennas up and switch as conditions dictate. KE2DCN

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Switching between is good fun.

[@W3OY-RAY]

I’ve always thought you were saying Rudy Seven’s… that is until I bumped into the papers by N6LF Rudy Severns… haha 🤯

[@Jim_2E0HKM]

Agree with this Callum, at the old QTH I had 200m+ if radial wire down on my DXC classic, I wanted to do quickly do some portable work so made a poor man's DX Commander from an old 7m pole, 2 paint tin lids for the element & radial bases & 50m if cheap speaker wire for the radials. On an A/B test to Florida on 20m no diffencnce! Paint tins on the air anyone?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Done.. Need to empty a few first!

[@m0aze611]

Great vid Callum, under some conditions I’ve got away with 3. Working portable radials can be a bother unless I’m in the clear of people. Never heard the difference and who can say on one day I work everyone I can hear the next day I can’t. Called radio and that’s what makes me scratch my head and arse, is there such a thing a antenna nirvana? Happy Easter to everyone. 73 Mike

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Scratching.. That's a technical term! :)

[@dback4430]

Some are 5 meters and some of mine are 2 and it works fine. I’ve got Cal in the log from Chicago just fine. I think I have 20 total.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Lovely!

[@peterlowrie1216]

I'm now a convert to ground mounted quarter waves as opposed to elevated ones with elevated radials. I've got 20 3m radials down and that gets me great tuning and great performance on 10 thru 30m. Just make sure to tighten your nuts (on the radial plate)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Tighten your nuts.. Yeah, I remember a girl who works for a supplier and her nickname was Spanner.. The manager explained about the nuts "everytime we walk past her" he said.. I didn't get it..!

[@riaanzs1zarconradie291]

7 Groups of 5 radials per group. Each Radial 3m long. Works perfect here in Cape Town, South Africa👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Lovely!

[@gm1sxwraymond882]

Middle of a 10×4.5m plot. 25×4m radials. Full length to North & South quadrants, folded as required to fit East, NONE West so I can get at feed point without trampling on them. Many Caribbean islands and QRZ S. America award in what you might think should be the blind zone. For curiosity, one day I put them all South-ish; no noticeable detriment to performance.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Very interesting..!

[@Paul_VK3HN]

Used a 1/4 wave vertical for portable and SOTA with four 1/4 wave radials each wirh banana plug. Often did receive tests by pulling them out one by one. Removing radials #4 and #3 made no discernible difference. Removing #2 was just audible, guessing 2-3 dB. Removing the last one and receiver noise dropped to the floor. As a result I frequently just rolled out one radial. I think it's also known as a counterpoise.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes OK Paul.. I do believe it might be worth cutting your 1/4 in half and putting them in pairs on bananas.. But hey, if it works..

[@Paul_VK3HN]

@@DXCommanderHQ Will try that, thanks Callum. And easier to roll out.

[@jcvee15]

Thanks for the great video, Callum. I'm probably still over thinking this but if I'm going to cut radials at a given wavelength (e.g. 1/8 wavelength), should they still be cut based on the lowest frequency of the antenna (e.g. 30m for the Rapide)? Thanks, and 73!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

No.. Random works.

[@Rick-se5qm]

Spent the last 6 mo. optimizing a 80m 3 element vertical parasitic array, directed to the EU. I found myself obsessing over SSB signal reports while expanding the radial field. The problem...at 00:00Z, when DX conditions are optimal, the DX stations are mostly non existent. Instead I use SNR reports from WSPR net. Let the 200mw transmitter run through the evening and the next morning there are nearly 100 SNR reports to obsess over. hihi

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Rick.. Yeah, I have done the same! :)

[@BrianConklin]

I've got 24 3.5 meter radials in an almost perfect circle with a DX Commander with the 80 Meter inverted L option. It works very well! I've thought about starting to play with the radials to see what I can do to improve. I'm on the west coast of USA (Desert of Washington State) and Europe can be hit and miss. I'd like a bit more DX, but I think my issue is more city QRM and I only have 100 W output. Anyway, that's my 2 cents. 73 - KJ7RDY

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Well if you have the time, there's nothing to stop you "upgrading" and adding more..

[@K3KTB]

Callum, I have a DX Commander Classic and laid down about 27 three meter radials. I would like to lay down some additional, longer, radials. Would it be ok to overlay the new radials that are already down and covered in the grass?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, do it.

[@Lafri1]

Hi Cal, Great simple Video as always. I love this Channel for years !! What about pasture fence as radials? In my opinion it is safer when cutting the gras with a lawn Traktor. How many meters for 160-10 meter? Normaly the width is 1 m to 2 meters. 73 from Lars DH1LL

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Lars, I did actually connect my radials to the fence with zero effect. You can't beet a few radials.

[@Lafri1]

@@DXCommanderHQ TU !

[@steve_g4ytk]

Cal, would you recommend adding a grounding rod. Do you think it may reduce some electrical interference I have at time. For your followers my DXC been up for over 2 years now. My radials are just spread out around 180 degrees. Cant get them out 360. The DXC Still never fails to amazed me.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Hey Steve.. I don't know about ground rods. Yes for your statin but the antenna? I can't see benefit.

[@g0fvt]

Steve, check out GM3SEK's "Clean up your shack" I built the common mode filter for the mains supply. On the worst HF bands it literally dropped the noise level by 2 S-points. (I do have groundstakes attached to the antenna but also a LOT of radials). I also tried a common mode choke at the shack end of the feeder, a similar improvement but of course combining both did not produce a cumulative effect! Feel free to email me if you need any more info.