My Radial Field is not Level. Will it Still Work? (

[@craigm7513]

Thanks, Dave your the first person I've found to talk about this topic. 73 KC3PEZ

[@kellypaws]

I thought this would be dull as buggery. Surprisingly, it was quite interesting stuff though. Tx 73.

[@douglaswilliams6834]

One tip on radials. If you are laying them on a lawn with grass, there is no need to bury them. Simply use "lawn staples" to hold them down and when the grass is growing they will completely disappear in a matter of weeks.

[@radiotowers1159]

One word about STRANDED copper cable, its much much more liable to corrosion than single core but as you say stranded is easier to work with . The stranded cable must be insulated from dampness at the end and connection points, the stranded copper will eventually go black and become useless so personally I have used stranded but now would only use solid core,

[@stridermt2k]

This is the kind of stuff can bug folks. Thanks man! You are always a precious resourceful. 73 de N2NLQ

[@KC3DLL]

Another great video, so true about those Pittsburgh yards lol

[@daveherron]

Im 2 weeks into my estimated 3 week delivery time of a 6BTV Deluxe Kit w/Omni Tilt. At first, I was disappointed everything but the antenna would be here but let me tell ya, 31 x 32 ft radials, 80ft 3x8 trench for the coax, measuring, cutting, terminating 31 radials, laying them out and spacing them, screwing it all together, putting dirt back over the trench, laying protective brick around it and leveling it, cutting the grass so the grass shoots away from center... (Rule of nature, when you dig a hole, put something in it then put the same dirt back, its never enough dirt lol) Im almost done with it all and by the time the antenna gets here, Ill probably actually be ready for the antenna part. That said, I used the copper jet lube stuff on everything metal to metal. Between bolts to washers to nuts to mounting plates etc. 1 small jar of it and I still have more than half leftover just for the antenna sections. I even put it between the mounting brackets. Literally everywhere metal touched metal where it would be okay for continuity. Ive been doing a few parts at a time over the last week or two. Every time I touched the stuff, I looked like a 3 year old that just found fingerpaint. Time will tell if that effort was worth it I guess. My setup is also on the side of a hill and DX gave me the same advice. Mount it lower in the yard was better than higher in the yard with less room for radials. Time will tell on that too I guess. For all the effort, I sure hope it works well. Ive been using a buddipole at home, portable style, which Ive been happy with but I can only operate when I feel like setting up and depending on the weather. So, if this works out at least as well, but I can operate in the house whenever I want to? Thats a win for me. Im working on the grounding rods now to tie back into common. No coax from it into the house yet.

[@daveherron]

Side note, the DX ground plate is 11 5/8. Radials 32 ft. Roughly means a radius of 33ft. I used a Pie Slice Calculator (not the correct technical term but will get you there). You can input the total length of radials. 360 degrees in a circle - divide that by the number of radials. Will tell you the degrees in between each of them. 11 something in my case. The calculator will tell you the arc distance between each one. In my case, ended up being about 6.5 ft between each. After laying one out as perfectly perpendicular to the radial plate as possible, it worked out about as perfect as possible keeping in mind the yard has dips and bumps. I used a rotating wheel tape measure. Prior to that, I eyeballed them. 4 times. They never ended up looking right until I measured them out. I even tried using the sides, tops and corners as starting points. Hopefully this helps someone even if Im not explaining it well right now.

[@glenmartin2437]

Thank you. A good review. N0QFT

[@clems6989]

Good job Dave! ..... 73

[@andyfritchen6409]

As usual great information. Thanks Dave! Perhaps a video on listening to P25 over my SDRplay with sdruno software. Having trouble figuring it out so I can hear our local sheriffs. I had a scanner that got regular use but since they moved to P25 no more.

[@tedclapham4833]

You may find that with the hill the feed point impedance may move closer to 50 ohms.

[@otm646]

When you are connecting your copper to the aluminum is there a reason you couldn't use something like NOALOX? It's an extremely common compound used in electrical wiring where you have aluminum and copper in intimate contact.

[@gfl1957]

Yes, I always do.

[@davecasler]

Looks like it should work per the Home Depot website. I would recommend it only for connections that don’t get wet. Otherwise go with stainless steel.

[@davidarnholt2930]

I lived this situation and my pair of verticals worked the world from Bitburg Germany.

[@kingduckford]

What effect does snow have on ground plane? Both by itself, and after it buries your radials?

[@davecasler]

Really very little. Water (and snow) is an insulator, so it will affect your signal very little.

[@kingduckford]

@@davecasler Thank you.

[@glennstevenson6242]

Snow is no problem here in Australia. 73s.

[@jacobw446]

How about using Gold plated wire lugs instead of stainless steel, soldered to the wire? 1/4" lug maybe?

[@markrogers3374]

Dave, if grounding your station is so important then why don’t people stick an 8 foot ground rod in the ground on field day when they’re doing QRP or if they’re taking their regular 100 W rig out to the field why at home but not when you’re away?

[@dazednconfused31337]

Is it because of RF in the shack? I've managed to turn my monitor on and off (7 MHz) and disable my USB keyboard & mouse (14 MHz) with just 10W. I think I even corrupted my SSD once and had to reinstall.

[@davecasler]

At home you want lightning surge protection and reduction of noise. It also helps with RFI in the shack. One reason people don't put ground rods in at field day is the issue of removing them when you're done. I once watched an Army exercise at Ft. Huachuca, AZ. They put in ground rods and then had to use an auto wrecker to pull them out because base environmental control wouldn't let them leave them in place.

[@Davidm-M0TPT]

Just for those of you with not much space ;) I have a btv6 with 16 5m radials works a treat ;)

[@timbacchus]

Will it effect the swr? Like seeing your dog.

[@davecasler]

No.

[@qutips33]

what will happen if i feed vertical antenna with 300 ohm ladderline will i get swr and loss

[@davecasler]

You can if you have an impedance transformer (like a balun, need 6:1) at the base of the vertical. Verticals run 30 to 50 ohms unbalanced impedance at the base, which is good for direct feed with coax.

[@sunnylandcamper]

How about dipoles on hillsides. My wire are all over the place. Thanks Dave. DE K8ROY

[@rangerbud]

Assuming one uses a grounded shield coax lightning arrestor as the coax leaves the house, does the grounding of the coax shield at the antenna feed point, introduce ground loops that screw up the coax as a transmission line???? Tnx, de W2LDP.

[@captainblacktoe1328]

Good question, I would like to know the answer also. KW5W

[@davecasler]

No. But your station ground rod should be bonded (connected) to your utility ground and the antenna ground rod. Ideally.

[@paulaubuchon2336]

Dave HELP What is the formula you would use to calculate the length of counterpoise wires for my vertical antenna... Paul K1YOU

[@billlamb8944]

The answer man. Another great show. KD9HWH.

[@loctite222ms]

Why wouldn't they? I could see that it would influence the radiation pattern some.

[@markg6jvy135]

👍👏👏

[@mallisette]

Very interesting as my QTH is like this but about 100mtrs from the sea too :), shame your dog didn't find interesting hi! 73 de GU4EON

[@Man0fMeans]

First!