Heavy Duty Ground
Radial System for Vertical Antennas by KL7JR
Here's my favorite heavy duty ground ring that
I use on portable outings with my vertical pipe antennas.
Much has been published on ground radial systems for
vertical antennas. Some hams think in order to achieve maximum efficiency
for a vertical antenna an elaborate ground system is required, (copper
plating ones entire backyard is not practical for most hams!).
Some hams favor a certain wire type over others and believe radial
lengths are most critical. I could go on and on....but I think most
old-timers will agree on "get out as 'many' radials as you can and make
them as 'long' as you can".
Galvanized plumbers tape and 1/4 inch galvanized stove
bolts!
It doesn't get much simpler or
easy to make. You can also use copper plumber's tape and brass
bolts but it'll cost more. As a minimum, I use four ground radials at
about 16 feet long each (remember more and longer is better!) which works
well on 10-40 meters for me.
On most portable outings when I have
room I use 8 radials at 20+ feet long each. I also try to get one or two
of the radials in the water if I'm near the ocean or any freshwater. This
broadens the ground plane affect and helps reduce noise verticals are
known for. Using plumber's tape for the wire radials is a more heavy duty
approach which eliminates the coiling of smaller gauge wire on the ground
(wire always tangles up when I'm around!). Insulated or bare wire for
radials and the ground ring is also fine, I just prefer plumber's tape.
The ground ring size I use is about 12 inches in diameter (not
critical). See pictures below:
Wide shot of assembled grounding ring with coils rolled
up
Closeup showing more detail
That's it and repeated from above......It doesn't get much
simpler or easy to make.
73 KL7JR
John Reisenauer
Don't miss John's other projects. Check them out on the antenna projects
page!
