If your vertical is an electrical halfwave no radials are required. I design my portable HF aerials to be electrical halfwave designs so no radials are needed. With a quarter wave radials are needed of course.
A few raised ground-plane radials typically has less loss than burying miles of wire in the dirt. Many higher frequency antennas are/were elevated ground-planes; low loss. Even an HF vertical may benefit from an elevated installation, with a few elevated ground radials. Especially if they're laid-out in the direction you want to reach. An End Fed Half-Wave is high impedance at the feed point, and can use a simple ground stake or even a very short counterpoise. A half-wave vertical (fed in the middle, elevated feed point) doesn't need a ground plane. If you're (very) near the ocean, then you likely won't need much wire. In summary, there are other options than burying miles of wire in the dirt.
Thank you for the other options, very good information. This video was talking about ground mounted verticals, when first installed mine did not have a radial system. When I added one the addition made a very noticeable improvement.
Not all vertical antennas essentially need ground-radials, of course. I like the T2LT "flowerpot" vertical dipole, for this reason. Install it at a reasonable height, and I think ground-losses will be tolerable; I suggest mount it at least a half-wave above ground at the bottom-end.
Installed at a reasonable height no longer makes it a ground mounted vertical so I can see your point, Mounting it at least a half way length above the ground removes the need for ground radials. However, short radials like the Gap Titan antennas have would be beneficial.
Yes, ground moisture content and soil composition are important but radials can make up the difference if one or two of these are insufficient. Metal objects are almost always a problem.
Quite clear and helped improved my understanding a bit more. Thanks for putting in the time to do this.
Mike .
glad it helped
If your vertical is an electrical halfwave no radials are required. I design my portable HF aerials to be electrical halfwave designs so no radials are needed. With a quarter wave radials are needed of course.
A few raised ground-plane radials typically has less loss than burying miles of wire in the dirt. Many higher frequency antennas are/were elevated ground-planes; low loss.
Even an HF vertical may benefit from an elevated installation, with a few elevated ground radials. Especially if they're laid-out in the direction you want to reach.
An End Fed Half-Wave is high impedance at the feed point, and can use a simple ground stake or even a very short counterpoise.
A half-wave vertical (fed in the middle, elevated feed point) doesn't need a ground plane.
If you're (very) near the ocean, then you likely won't need much wire.
In summary, there are other options than burying miles of wire in the dirt.
Thank you for the other options, very good information. This video was talking about ground mounted verticals, when first installed mine did not have a radial system. When I added one the addition made a very noticeable improvement.
Clear and very helpful. Keep up the great work.
Much appreciated!
clear and simple. Nice video.
Thank you!
What is the spacing from the antenna feed point to the radial hub??? This is critical due to the fact the feed point impedance can change.
Not all vertical antennas essentially need ground-radials, of course. I like the T2LT "flowerpot" vertical dipole, for this reason. Install it at a reasonable height, and I think ground-losses will be tolerable; I suggest mount it at least a half-wave above ground at the bottom-end.
Installed at a reasonable height no longer makes it a ground mounted vertical so I can see your point, Mounting it at least a half way length above the ground removes the need for ground radials. However, short radials like the Gap Titan antennas have would be beneficial.
Very helpful, thanks!
It depends on ground moisture content, soil composition and if there are metal structures near by, cirrect?
Yes, ground moisture content and soil composition are important but radials can make up the difference if one or two of these are insufficient. Metal objects are almost always a problem.
Very interesting info.👍🍻🤠🇦🇺⁷³
Thanks 👍
Good info as always.
thank you