Part 2 - Ham Radio Antenna Radials

In Part 2 I have connected 6 radials to the DX Engineering radial plate under the Hustler 4BTV vertical antenna. I show how to make a solid connection, and demonstrate how to pin the ground radial wires in place. If you want the best performance from a ground mounted vertical antenna, installing an effective ground radial system is essential.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• amateur
• ham
• radio
• ground
• radial
• vertical
• antenna
• hustler
• 4btv
• we5i
• hamradiocrazy
• dx
• engineering

[honeybees1]

Is your antenna so close to the ground for testing purposes or do you intend to use it at that hight?

[hamradiocrazy]

@honeybees1 Yes, the antenna is installed permanently in the position where you see the it in the videos. I wonder why do you ask? 73 de WE5I

[honeybees1]

@hamradiocrazy I see numerous videos of ham operators go out of there way to get there anetenna as high as posible,thats all.

[hamradiocrazy]

@honeybees1 I see. Well, a vertical can be installed either way. Raised in the air, there should be at least 2 radials per band, and they must be carefully cut to resonance for each band. Elevated radials work very well, but pose certain mechanical challenges. On the ground, radial length need not be tuned, but for top performance they must be as many and as long as practical, with 32 radials being an accepted point of diminishing returns and .2 wavelength being an accepted minimum length.

[kd5exr]

What did you do to prevent corrosion where the radials (wires) connect up to the grounding plate? If you didn’t do anything to protect the connection than I recommend a compound like NO-OX (it is nasty stuff so use gloves. Also, did you run a ground rod? I would be interested to know what the difference in your noise floor is with and without the ground rod. Thanks for the great video.

[Channellock12]

How long does it take for the grass to draw up the wire? Reason I am asking is what happens if Mr.lawnmower shows up. I am just saying. how tall before you mow?

[redman840]

I sure wish I could push the wire staples in as easily as you were able to at my location.Near Tucson,the Sonoran Desert is rock laden and the ground is about as hard as can be found.My first antenna as a Novice was a Hustler 4BTV.It worked quite well and I really liked it.Your install is done properly.Thanks for the nice video.Good luck with a very good antenna!...73...Dennis W7KB.

[qn1010]

"this wire will not be seen again" - I would like to add, unless one doesn't have a dog that likes to dig :-)