Completely agree on the Radials Mike. On comparing to your end fed, 2 things, the WRC is compromised slightly due to base loading (nothing wrong with this) but the main thing is that height is might. I've done so much testing at home in a semi suburban area and an antenna in the air with a clear far field wins everytime. Get a vertical where it can have a completely free take off in its far field and it can then put up a good fight and outperform a dipole, exspecially on DX.
@McPilot_W3DDS
2 жыл бұрын
Hey Mike... I just watched this and put this system together with the same results. The length of the radials are .05 wavelength at 40 and I am thinking at the harmonics it works as well for a similar reason. Great info!!
@1crazynordlander
2 жыл бұрын
In the manual I printed out for my DX Commander Classic, Callum has his radial examples I copied right out of the manual on page 9 is "21 Radials 3m long (Callum’s favorite)" I am not sure if there is an "exact" science to radials except it is good to have something... I like your idea of a small footprint. The radials that come with the WRC TIA system I have are quite long. I should just use that wire to make a new configuration. I also have removed the coil and used my Shark ham sticks on the WRC base and have had good success also.
@kennethherring2918
2 жыл бұрын
Given that there are so many suggestions on the length of radials and how many, what it all comes down to is the space that you have. For me, I have a small back yard and the 15x2.5m sounds like it might work. However, I plan to start out with only 12 radials at that length and see what the SWR readings are and then add or subtract radials to see if it makes it better. It's all about experimenting to see what works for each person's situation.
@brentOhlookAsnake
2 жыл бұрын
I use 3 sets of 2 16.5ish lengths of wires on ring terminals. Works awesome
@aa3konthego
2 жыл бұрын
I use 4 33 foot (Imperial forever!) radials on my Super Antenna clone. And yes they take up a lot of room but I can get them set-up in just a couple of minutes and a little longer to roll them up. I too have been considering more but shorter radials so I want to see how your new set up performs in a more open environment.
@K0BJJ
2 жыл бұрын
Good video Mike. I run four 16' radials on my mini and it tunes well every time. Keep up the good work. 73 K0BJJ
@hamradiotube
2 жыл бұрын
Interesting. Only 4 you say?
@K0BJJ
2 жыл бұрын
@@hamradiotube yea only 4 16ft radials. Have gotten swr down under 1.4 on 40, 20, 17,15, 10
@miketaylor9231
2 жыл бұрын
@@K0BJJ I'm doing the same with an MFJ hamstick and adjustable stinger. I mount the base up high off the ground, about 10' or so, so the radials are elevated. I'll either use a tripod with a push up pole, or mount the push up pole on my trailer hitch mount to get it stable and able to raise it up. Works great and when I swap 20 and 40 meter sticks, I just need to adjust the adjustable whip on the hamstick.
@georgeosier5459
Жыл бұрын
great videos as usual .. I find with my Shorty Forty I use 3 16ft radials and it's 1 to 1 at 7040 with my Chamelion SS17 ... I think Wolf River has actually put another loop on the coil just for the shorter SS17 antenna ... de N2JNZ
@eddy2561
2 жыл бұрын
KE0OG, the ARRL and QST's new technical editor has done a few KZitem videos on this vary subject and Dave's recommendation is more shorter radials than a few long radials work best..... ~ 25' each. I too use the Wolf River 1000 coil and very impressed with its quality built....but remember, a vertical is a vertical is a vertical. My MFJ EFHW beats the vertical every time! 73/K6SDW
@hamradiotube
2 жыл бұрын
Yes, I know Dave. I think you'd be surprised. I like to set up multiple antennas portable when I can. I've done some AB comparisons to the WRC and an EFHW using an antenna switch for fast comparison. Sometimes the vertical hears better, sometimes the EFHW does. I wouldn't personally say the EFHW beats a vertical every time.
@eddy2561
2 жыл бұрын
@@hamradiotube Well.......almost every time.....HI HI. I have both the endfed (due to HOA constraints) and the Wolf River vertical setup and I use which ever antenna is hearing the best.I''m a any frequency, any mode kinda ham...since 1965. 73/ed
@M0RMY
2 жыл бұрын
I’ve been blaming Callum for all personal ham failed experiments for many years. Of course when he’s turned out to be correct, then it was my idea in the first place. It’s a mutually acceptable arrangement as he does the same to me. 😃 Works great. Nice video as always Mike.
@hamradiotube
2 жыл бұрын
Hahaha!!! It just seems like the thing to do you know?
@miketaylor9231
2 жыл бұрын
I'll steal ideas, and give credit to the guy I stole them from, but of course mine is "new and improved" and works better 😄
@Transmissions
2 жыл бұрын
Man, this is awesome Mike. I wonder if this would really help that POS Comet HFJ-350?
@ai5dd
2 жыл бұрын
My Chameleon MPAS Lite uses only one 25' counterpoise wire, works great.
@hamradiotube
2 жыл бұрын
Yes it does, but that's a little bit different antenna.
@Obeeewaan
2 жыл бұрын
33' radius=almost a 66' circle diameter 😁, just sayin..
@James_Bowie
2 жыл бұрын
SWR is one thing but the real test will be on air. That is, what sort of 'ears' does that configuration have? Yes, need to see it tested more thoroughly.
@dheller777
2 жыл бұрын
I use the shorter radials on my DX Commander and have had good results with contacts but not that great swr measurements. what battery are you using and power level? KE0RPU
@toddschroeder561
2 жыл бұрын
What would happen if you used more of the 10mtr radials??
@TI2GBB
2 жыл бұрын
I have experimented with the metal roof at home, It works Great! 73s from Costa Rica Mike! TI2GBB. Greg.
@ess2870
Жыл бұрын
Should the loading coil be as close to ground as possible or would elevating it on a tripod help? Not center loading, but just getting the antenna higher in the air? Or is takeoff angle the main thing with these setups?
@ess2870
Жыл бұрын
@@boblatkey7160 This is what I've been hearing as well. Just got back from an antenna theory class today at a Hamfest. The presenter suggested running them as center loaded offset fed dipoles. Basically you put the coil in the center instead of base loaded, raise the base off the ground on a tripod to insulate it and run one radial 1/4 wavelength in the direction of your desired contact zone. You fine tune your swr using that radial. If you wanted a more Omni pattern you would add a second radial 180degs the opp direction. But you have to tune both radials in that setup. I also think it helps with the Q and allowing a wider tunable range.
@Tallhorse89
2 жыл бұрын
What soldering iron do you use/recommend.
@KillerStephen
2 жыл бұрын
Thats interesting.
@christophersmith1155
Жыл бұрын
do 11 meters. does the length of the radials matter to the last inch ?
@n5txl
Жыл бұрын
Callum once said, "Throw a couple wavelengths worth of wire on the ground and you'll be fine." I have also tried this and found it to be true. As far as 11m? That's not real radio :)
@paulaubuchon2336
Жыл бұрын
What is the wire guage??? Paul K1YOU
@hamradiotube
Жыл бұрын
18
@stephane153
2 жыл бұрын
"standard cool hWip" nice reference to Stewie ...
@potatoslim2332
2 жыл бұрын
Say that again, what did you say? Why are you saying it like that?
that's the hard way to measure out multiple wires for s single length. Geez You are too close in proximity to measure that antenna.
@hamradiotube
8 ай бұрын
Nope
@bigjohn75
2 жыл бұрын
Come on Mike what's wrong with freedom measurements. Maybe it's the rest of the world who has it wrong! 🗽🇺🇸🦅
@dougdaniels
2 жыл бұрын
Two kinds of countries in the world, those on the metric system and those that have put a man on the moon 🚀
@Transmissions
2 жыл бұрын
Metric r00lz, imperial dr00lz
@kd4baoc612
Жыл бұрын
Certain industries use both types of measurements and a few other industries use old measurements units. For example, Forest industry...loggers have their cut timber purchased at the mill at green weight in tons, some foresters estimate volume by board feet or cubic meters, and some measure linear distances in "Gunter Chains"
@dlin5546
Жыл бұрын
Metric sucks
@agentcovert
Жыл бұрын
Agree this guy sounds like he's from Commiefornia or his " life partner " is from that shithole..
@anthonythorpe9493
2 жыл бұрын
You should try the 213inch whip and do away with the coil for 20meters. My swr was flat and I use 18 11ft radials.
@DominicMazoch
2 жыл бұрын
Same here for 6 to 20m. And you can go 1/2 L for 6 and 10.
@anthonythorpe9493
2 жыл бұрын
Sorry didn’t understand what you ment for 6 and 10 half wavelength on telescopic whip for 6 and 10 ? I tried the whip for 10 a half wavelength but you have to have a matching network underneath to make it work?
@DominicMazoch
2 жыл бұрын
@@anthonythorpe9493 Actually no at 1/2 L. But I would in case I change bands in the future.
@CriticalThinker-42
11 ай бұрын
1) You probably have Common Mode Currents on your coax showing artificiality higher SWR on some bands, and need a current choke at the analyzer / radio. Try touching the coax connector and see if your SWR drops on the analyzer (bleed off most CMC), to diagnose this. 2) Callum (DX Commander) recommends 2 to 4 wave lengths of ground radials for your lowest band, you had 30 meters of radials so efficiency will suffer below the 15m band. Callum also stated that with shortened radials you do loose some efficiency, but its negligible. 3) If your really concerned with radiation efficiency (not just a low SWR) stop using base loaded antennas, as your high current point (max radiation, 1/4 wave) is at the feed point and tapers off from there to the elements tip (max voltage point). Base loading absorbs your max radiation (1/4 wave element) on the lower bands. LB Cebik W4RNL modeled the Inverted U half wave horizontal dipole where the outer half of both elements dropped straight down. Signal loss was only ~0.6 db (unnoticeable in the real world). Real world testing confirms the model... SO... with base loading a 17 ft whip on 40m (and lower bands) your loosing most of your radiated signal. YOU COULD mount the loading coil on a mast (54" Hustler to longer homebrew) plug in a banana plug jumper to its SO-239 and a 3/8" ring terminal to the mast mount, insulate and feed the base of the mast and improve your 40m and lower band signal. Mid loading is recommended and preferred for that reason, ask Callum. 4) What band am I on? 7 Mhz! Hi Hi. I was licensed before you were born, so my mind is stuck in the rut of Feet and Inches. You young guys can spread the Meters word to the new generation of hams... And on that note, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! 73 mike N4ONL
@prephampaul
Жыл бұрын
I read a lot about radials when I put up my Hustler as a flagpole antenna. I ended up buying a 500f, sorry 152.4m, roll of insulated wire from Lowes and in my 30x50', i mean 9.14m x 15.24m, back yard used all of the wire with the smallest being maybe 6' err 1.829m long to maybe 35ish' 10.68m long being the longest evenly distributed around it makes it work much better, I think it is quieter and my 6btv is tuned and operational (ie. multiple contacts made) on 6,10,15,20,30,40,80m so 7btv...😁
@axandio
Жыл бұрын
I wish you would have tried to show us contacts on 80.
@James_Bowie
Жыл бұрын
What band am I on? I'm usually on the 131.234 feet band but occasionally I'm on the 65.6168 feet and 55.7743 feet bands ... when I can remember what they are. 😆
@hamradiotube
Жыл бұрын
Hahahaha!! I love this!
@kirkgoins7214
Жыл бұрын
I enjoy your videos and just cane across this one. So what happens if you take those 33ft radials and snake them back and forth in roughly 5. 5 ft lengths? You have a pattern roughly of six 5.5ft radials. So 3 wires in roughly 4m diameter area.
@AndrewWells527
2 жыл бұрын
For a POTA setup when I start on 20m or higher, I unravel 2 radials and connect each at BOTH ends, so the ground radial setup is like two clover leafs, arranged perpendicular to the feed line direction. 78" whip on the mega tripod. Flat SWR whole 20m band every time. Then if I want to drop to 40/80, I will add the third radial full length and throw on the coil. Bonus tip is to use banana plugs to so any trips don't bring down the antenna.
@potatoslim2332
2 жыл бұрын
Is this the logic behind Using chicken wire laid out as a ground plane?
@Johnyrocket70
Жыл бұрын
I just throw a few radials on the balcony in a bowtie pattern and talk to the world on a 17' whip leaning out of my balcony at an angle. The radials aren't even straight I don't have the room for it. Being on the 2nd floor makes it perfect for 10, 12, 15. Sometimes it gets a bit noisy on the others.. That's when a break out the choke balun. It lowers the noise.
@jimkranda1950
Ай бұрын
did you anchor the ends of the 15 laterals?
@AD6DMDennis
2 жыл бұрын
Loving that RigExpert Stick Pro
@danielwarren7037
2 жыл бұрын
Lol man, just got you in the log and i was thinking "why does that call sound familiar " then it hit me lol. One of my fav youtubers. Thank tin cup for the slow brain lol. 73's man and keep up the work. Catch you down the line...de kf5pcv
@DavidHead-W4WLC
2 жыл бұрын
With radials on the ground length isn't too important, quantity is what matters.
@jasmuz
2 жыл бұрын
What if i told you i'm running a WRC on a magmount on the car, great DX and SWR 1.4:1!
@DewayneW4FDT
2 жыл бұрын
I do the same thing... when I want to do a RADAR run for POTA.. i use it in a mag mount and use it well..
@DaveWickertAE7TD
2 жыл бұрын
I would have loved to have seen what the SWR looks like if you disconnected the radials one group by one . . .
@hamradiotube
2 жыл бұрын
It probably would have just gotten worse and worse.
@Transmissions
2 жыл бұрын
sadistic!
@gregmihran8616
2 жыл бұрын
Use Mueller compression clips (20A) instead of ring terminals to attach ur radials on the tripod legs! So much faster to deploy and pack-up. I've been using nine 10-foot radials on my 20M-6M activations with extremely low SWR (three per clip for a total of nine). I add an extra set of three radials (on one more clip) when I drop down to 40M-80M for best SWR. Good for u brother! :) 73 KJ6ER
@hamradiotube
2 жыл бұрын
I think you need more radials cuz I can never hear you when you're out and I'm playing front porch radio!! It certainly couldn't be my stations fault lol! #hamharder!
@gregmihran8616
2 жыл бұрын
@@hamradiotube Hey Mike, I always pour an extra ice cold hazy IPA on my radials - that works better than salt water! Stop drinking that stuff and soak your front yard in it brother! Wooooo hooooo! 73 KJ6ER
@hamradiotube
2 жыл бұрын
@@gregmihran8616 Hahahahaha!! No way would I ever spill the holy water like that!
@miketaylor9231
2 жыл бұрын
@@hamradiotube Real holy water is Westmalle Trappest or St. Bernardus Abt 12 made by Belgian monks 🍺. Can I get an AMEN???
@marcelookunz-lu1fk
4 ай бұрын
Te veo desde Argentina y te escucho mediante el traductor lector de subtítulos al español. MUY BIEN por hablar de medidas en métrica. 73 Cordiales.
@dawn4833
3 ай бұрын
Does it matter what gauge? I watched "every day ham" and he mentions 22 Awg, but I see you are using a larger diameter?
@hamradiotube
3 ай бұрын
I've not done any real focused experiments with that question but I have used all kinds of different gauge counterpoise wires and I don't think it really matters.
@dawn4833
3 ай бұрын
Thank you
@N1IA-4
8 ай бұрын
Great job on this video. Of course, one can't run tuned radials on the ground as the ground detunes them. The more wire or conductive material on the ground the better. That's why Faraday cloths can work as a great substitute for annoying radial wires out in the field. This doesn't apply of course when elevated radials, where one can tune them according to band and get a perfect SWR if that is the op's goal. I'm like you and am all for making it easier and not harder. 73 de Scott W1AL
@BradSnyder1
2 жыл бұрын
It will be interesting to see what the results are with some more testing. If it does work out, I might have to try that with my WRC as well. 73 Mike
@chanelkuini5883
2 жыл бұрын
Good job73
@W9HJBill
2 жыл бұрын
When I was laying down my radials at my house, people said the wires are too short and it'll never work. I put down 55 radials anywhere from 10 feet to 33 feet (I cut each wire to fit in the space I had) and the only reason I stopped at 55 as opposed to 64 was because I ran out of wire. I had laid down 1000 feet of wire (305 meters ... or 3.8 times 80M ... which is nearly ideal, I may go back and lay down 9 more radials to get to a full 320M of radial for giggles and get the 4 full times max band). I get out all around the world and have made 20,944 contacts (17,019 confirmed) from 155 countries. In short (pun intended), it's not the length of your wire, it's the total length of all wires.
@RobG-KD9YBZ
Жыл бұрын
Ok, so I went and made my own counterpoise and I kinda screwed up…. Instead of making 6x4.8768 meter per gator clip, I made 3 gator clips with 2x 4.8768 meter & 4x 2.4384 meter counterpoise wires per gator clip. All because I did a bone head thing cutting my first set and didn’t want to waste the wire. I should be ok, right?
@joekrepps
2 жыл бұрын
Def' agree metric rocks! I remember being a gradeschool kid in the late 1960's when there was a hub-bub about the US groing metric. I thought Imperial was a real pain too so I didn't pay attention. Oops! Great video!! Love the new "POTA": Porches On The Air WB3CFN...dit dit
@wecontrolthevideo
2 жыл бұрын
A couple ideas came to mind. 1. Try tuning the coil a little low in frequency, then shorten the length of the vertical to fine tune it to resonance. 2. Add some wire to the top of the vertical and throw the other end over a tree branch or over your roof, and it would be an inverted “L” that should be more efficient. 73 Dave K7DR Sterling Hts, MI.
@alexdokic5567
2 жыл бұрын
Hi, it’s nice to know that I’m not the only lunatic playing with radials trying to get the perfect SWR on all bands! There are so many variables that can affect the readings you get, but in my setup I have the wolf river coil 1000 on a small tripod with a Chameleon mil whip and six radials of 11 feet 6 inches, the SWR readings are pretty good. I really like the Wolf river coil, although a bit time consuming if band hopping! Thanks for posting the vid. 73 Alex M0KVA
@ae1tpa92gwtom2
2 жыл бұрын
Hey Mike, u got all the name brands out today!,,, WRC, DX Cal, Rig Expert, cool, video as always .. From time to time I have difficulty tuning 20, then I move my excess coax, put it in a coil near to the feed point, it usually wants to play ok after that, can be finniky for sure. I Only work portable n most of the time with a telescopic whip, oh, n gotta love the Rig Expert, cheers , Gd DX, 73
@Mike_12345
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the good video Mike! I’ve been experimenting and researching this with my own base loaded portable design I’m working on. Here’s what I’ve found: The reason the SWR is higher on 20 is because the radial system is more efficient on the higher bands. On such a short antenna with short radials, as you add more radials the feed point resistance drops away from 50 ohms and SWR goes up. However the gains you see in dB on your signal strength far outweigh any power loss. Even though your dead flat on 80 is venture to say most of your RF is lost in heat. Remember a dummy load is a perfect match too but most of your RF ends up as heat! With my system mounted on the ground spike as I take radials away on 20 meters the SWR drops from 1.3 to 1.08. That’s without changing the load on the coil. Better SWR but less dB signal received at the other end. Ref ARRL antenna book 3.11-3.13
@osculant
2 жыл бұрын
I use 3 sets of 10 wires each, 24ga silicone wire about 9’ long. Keeps the station footprint down when operating POTA in small and urban areas. Works just great. 73 K9MKE
@TimRedman
2 жыл бұрын
I run 5m radials on my WRC all the time. Usually bundles of 5-6 wires mated to Mueller clips, and typically run 3 to 4 bundles. At 40m, that's at or over two full wavelengths of radials in the end, and far more for the higher frequencies.
@vironpayne3405
2 жыл бұрын
More radials is always better and short radials (0.05 wavelength) can replace long radials. The nuance is varying the length of the radials most effectively. Think of your radial set as a discone or fan dipole. You got most of your bands where you want them. What length would you need to help with bands that are still a bit finicky?
@DK5ONV
2 жыл бұрын
Mikey... take the Fulll Credit cuz this will work if you done everything right 💯🤘🤘🤘
@k4nyxradio485
2 жыл бұрын
Remember the radials are 1/2 the antenna. Add more and your receive will also improve. I’ve run 30-8.5ft radials with excellent results. Recently cut a new set of 21-13 ft radials. Still have yet to get out there and play. Try and get the equivalent of 4 wave lengths of wire for 20m band. Will give you excellent results. Same concept is used w dx commander. It works.
@dandypoint
Жыл бұрын
I like to look at insulated radials as forming a capacitive coupling to the earth in order to extract the return currents from the earth. There are many many parallel paths through the earth and just like parallel resistors that reduces the total resistance. The formula for resistance of the earth or a slug of earth is R = (resistivity of the earth) times Length/Area ( of that slug or hunk of earth) Each slug of earth with a given length and area has a resistance and can be thought of as a resistor. Out away from the antenna there are a great many such slugs in parallel providing good conductivity. However close in the number of such slugs decreases and the net conductance goes down creating a higher resistance to the return currents. So a single ground rod will have a high contact resistance with the earth but a flat “capacitor” plate or a radial system can provide an effective low impedance path spread out over a large area of earth. The largest gains are made close to the antenna where the return currents merge and likewise the number of parallel paths are less. By extracting the return currents with the radial field just several meters out where there are still significant parallel paths for the current the losses are much reduced. The farther you go from the antenna the less you have to gain by extracting the return currents at that point.
@Steve-it1yn
2 жыл бұрын
Ran a 17' Chameleon whip yesterday off a post clamp mount, 8x 20' radials. Tuned with the analyzer to less than 1.2:1 across general portion of 20 meters and made my first European contact from N. TX. Had a rough time making contacts within the states here.
@gregmve6gcm
2 жыл бұрын
Great video. I also have a black cat, and I named him Yaesu! Lol, I'm a bit of a fan of Yaesu radios. 73 from VE6GCM
@snowdiddley4634
2 жыл бұрын
Followed Cullum’s guidance when I built my new antenna worked GREAT. It’s not how long on each but in aggregate for sure!
@walteredwards544
2 жыл бұрын
I've been doing this too. I use 3 sets of 4 radials, cut to 11 feet. You may need to manipulate your whip just a little to get 20 meters just right. I'm still tweaking mine also
@wildbill1
2 жыл бұрын
I did something very similiar mike with my WRC. I attached a ring connector with a short piece of wire to a Anderson power pole connector that stays on the base. Then I added 3 ten foot radials to a power pole connector so I have a total of 9 on 3 legs. Easily taken apart and wound up on kite winders when not in use. Worked ocean side in Florida last December. Seem to work well.
@RESlusher
2 жыл бұрын
Good stuff, Mike! I did something kinda similar with mine. I ran three counterpoise wires out from each leg connected with Anderson Powerpoles and a short pigtail zip-tied to the leg near the coax connector. Thanks for sharing.
@samcgill
2 жыл бұрын
With my DX commander that I made, I used random lengths around the 2m mark, rather than specific lengths. So they are all between 1.5 and 3 metres long but are all different. This seems to work well. I'm not certain but being specific about the length of these may not be required.
@dougdaniels
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this Mike. I'm looking for a small(ish) footprint POTA antenna. The parks near me don't have a lot of open space.
@DewayneW4FDT
2 жыл бұрын
I took the 3 wires that came with my kit and shortened them to 12 8ft runs.. but i dont use it for 80m, if so Id make a few of them much longer.
@donaldsmith3048
Жыл бұрын
I have the Wolf River Coil with the center load parts. I think it lowers the angle to get out farther. I will try the more and shorter counterpoise wires. Thank You for the information. 73 W4DES
@sockeatinggolden8316
2 жыл бұрын
Try removing a pack of two of the radials for 20 and higher. I find that I have to coil up a significant amount of WRC ground radial to get a good match without a tuner.
@K4dsx
Жыл бұрын
What gauge wire did ya use again?
@James_Bowie
Жыл бұрын
From performance point of view, the wire gauge in unimportant (ARRL suggests range of #12 to #28). Flexibility and lightness for carrying and throwing is a definite consideration.
@DominicMazoch
2 жыл бұрын
I have 3 30' HFT metal tape measures I want to use as a counterpoise. But use alligator clip patch cables to connect them to the legs You could use a gator clip at one end of your extra radials. Makes instillations easier?
@jonnyandpoppy
2 жыл бұрын
Great video Mike! Will try this with my Super Antenna set up for compact deployment.
@2EOGIY
2 жыл бұрын
2:20 How do you know if counterpoise is approved for Region 1 or Region 3? FCC approved for Region 3 is measured in feet.
@ReedAB8AS
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Mike. I’m going to try this. Smaller footprint is always a good thing in the park.
@LionRoars918
2 жыл бұрын
As a Canadian, the metric part was the best part. But thanks for the video too. My WRC is needing some tweaking.
@sk8crk
7 ай бұрын
you might try to use slightly different lengths .. 8 - 9 - 10 ft for example
@BennyCFD
Жыл бұрын
What you can do is............when you're tuning leave about 6 inches of the antenna not extended and to fine tune use it to make the final adjustment
@mssippijim
Жыл бұрын
I've had pretty good results with 4 wires around 10 - 12 feet.
@Martin_Lynch
2 жыл бұрын
Excellent and informative as always Mike.
@hamradiotube
2 жыл бұрын
Well thank you very much from across the pond! Cheers.
@TonyLing
2 жыл бұрын
Nice to hear one of you septics railing against stoopd measurements.
@thebugg333
Жыл бұрын
how long is that whip? I just got the mini pota version and I am still poking around with it.
@aldewitt9
2 жыл бұрын
Has it occurred to you that you could just add a second nut to the mirror mount and not have to loosen the mount?
@kgthegman
2 жыл бұрын
are you using the words counterpoise and radial interchangeably? I'm trying to figure out the difference..
@gaptastic
2 жыл бұрын
I hear other hams doing the same, but I'm not sure . This is what I understand ... the radials assist in a good counterpoise. Typically radials use the soil (and moister and salt) to create a good counterpoise to the other side of antenna. would be cool if someone with knowledge chimed in. I'm but a year ham, i guess yam.
@ess2870
Жыл бұрын
Counterpoise is basically a ground radial that's elevated from the ground. It's a "Artificial Ground" if you will. Like chicken wire suspended above concrete. That would be a counterpoise. If you had that same chicken wire on bare earth or buried, it would be a ground field. They serve the same purpose by different means.
@davidbinkowski4825
Жыл бұрын
I think a radial is a counterpoise, but a counterpoise it not necessarily a radial. Counterpoise for a VHF/UHF antenna could be a pizza pan or a car's roof or trunk. A radial is a KIND of counterpoise that is more practical for longer wavelengths (33 foot radius pizza pans are not very practical). So radials would be wires that "radiate" out from the vertical. You couldn't call the metal screening gator clipped to ground under a vertical antenna a "radial" really, but it is a counterpoise. Counterpoise is the broader term for the thing that the radiating element works against.
@BennyCFD
Жыл бұрын
Counterpoise are elevated and need to be tuned. Radials are on the ground and don't need to be tunes because the ground detunes them.............................
@Tump2010
2 жыл бұрын
it would have been interesting to see a before and after on ft8 pskreporter
@aa3konthego
2 жыл бұрын
Can you post a link to or at least the title of the article?
@Matthew-KN4QHQ
2 жыл бұрын
This is just my experience but I have a similar setup from watching Cal’s video. I used five radials per connector but 3.5 meters long each. I was good on 40, tested 80 it was fine, but don’t really use it in the field. 20 I could not get below 1.6:1. So over a few days I played with it trying different things. I finally unhooked one of the sets of radials and it got down to 1.1-1.2:1. So now when I run 20m I only use two sets of five at3.5m. Hope you find something that works for you. Hope to hear you on the air again. KN4QHQ.
@hamradiotube
2 жыл бұрын
Interesting. I hadn't thought of that. I'll have to give it a try. Thanks for the tip.
@dennissteinerd1548
2 жыл бұрын
I've been having great success on 20m using the original (3) 33' radials and then adding (10) 1/4 wave 20 meter radials. I'm using the Wolf River TIA as a base antenna.
@hamradiotube
2 жыл бұрын
I'll bet that works great. A little outside of the scope of what I'm trying to do here in shortening the footprint of the antenna but more wire is usually a good thing.
@Tump2010
2 жыл бұрын
You are not a true ham if you don't have a black cat. 😀
@hamradiotube
2 жыл бұрын
I can support this comment.
@dsagun727
2 жыл бұрын
I luv my little panther....
@halledwardb
Жыл бұрын
Carpet panther.
@royramdeen8864
2 жыл бұрын
Mike awesome.. Question? does the seize of the wire matter, can I use 26 gauge wire for instance. Thanks for this cool experiment, making new radials.😉
@forgetyourlife
2 жыл бұрын
I was just going to as the same, How would the Sotabeams wire work into this scenario as radials?
@johntoomey7248
Жыл бұрын
What band are you on? I laughed and laughed.
@denniskimrey4129
2 жыл бұрын
I use 12 20 footers. Three groups of 4.
@bruceweight7319
2 жыл бұрын
One thing i did on my DX Commander is i made four one foot long wires with alligator clips on each end. I clip them on right before i stand it up. Im kinda crippled up and bending over is hard. While i was spreading out the wires it kept loosening the wing nut and the ring would fall out so back on my replaced knee to put it back on. Now i just reach down clip it on and spread them out as i go i ought to do short video of it. Wish i had some aircraft wire splices they just click together.
@Bluecollarham
Жыл бұрын
Glad to see people experimenting with their DXC’s. I used the standard Callum suggested 7x4 counterpoise setup on my DXC. It was so annoying to set it all up and fiddle with wing nuts and and that annoying sticky washer while connecting radials…. Especially in the grass. I made seven 10g pigtails with female MC4 connectors (solar plugs) and added two more wires to each set with MC4 male plugs…. Now setting up counterpoises is easy and the MC4 plugs won’t let loose while fanning and tugging on the counterpoises or if someone trips on a wire….
@will6051
2 жыл бұрын
Like your shirt. My brand.
@4wheelinRedneck2
2 жыл бұрын
i use 4 10' radials for mine no issues so far
@k4rsp
2 жыл бұрын
My cat loves wall warts wire...
@billsmotrilla6215
2 жыл бұрын
20m did not tune because 2m radials are an odd 5th harmonic of 20m. Try them 2 inches longer or shorter.
@hamradiotube
2 жыл бұрын
Hmm, good thought. Where were you when I was building this?! lol
@billwhite9016
11 ай бұрын
What is the gauge of the wire for the radials I cannot afford 300ft. of dx1o wire
@CriticalThinker-42
11 ай бұрын
18 gauge wire is usually recommended for a single antenna element at 100 or so watts, 14 gauge for 1500 watts. BUT with multiple radials you can use smaller gauge (RF wise) as it divides the ground current among them. Just keep them large enough that walking in them wont break the radials. I'd stick to 18 ga for its strength. Callum (DX Commander) recommends you use 2 to 4 wave lengths of radials (for your lowest band) for efficiency. You'll get a little gain above 4 wavelengths but its not really worth its cost. Economically 2 wavelengths of radials should make you happy. You can add more radials in the future if you have to use fewer. I personally wouldn't use shorter than 4 meters (~14 ft) for each radial with a 1/4 wave vertical on 40m and up. Remember, doubling the radial length increases the effective ground area by ~4 times when using several radials. 73 mike N4ONL
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