Thread: One step closer

You beat me to it paul. I found the radial plate at DX engineering too. it makes it much easier to attach radials. 1/4 wave is a minimum length. It's a ground system, it's not an exact science so the length doesn't have to be exact. Buy 500ft of wire and start stringing them out everywhere, in every direction. If you don't have the room, string them out straight as far as you can them bend them along the property line.
I also recommend a ground rod next to the bottom of your antenna that is connected to the plate and antenna. And for extra, a ground rod 10ft out in four directions connected by 6 gauge wire to the plate or antenna. I know that is 5 ground rods but you're trying to do the best you can with a vertical. At least one at the bottom!

I remember my first vertical. Antron 99. Said it didn't need a ground system. But they sell one as an add-on. HUH, I tried it with and without and with making a big difference. Even my CB antenna (Shockwave) has ground radials. Set between 10m and 11m. Its on top of the roof, on a 10ft roof tower. You can see the balun at the bottom.