Part 1 - Ham Radio Antenna Radials

In Part 1 I have installed the support base for the Hustler 4BTV vertical antenna, and the DX Engineering radial plate. I talk about my plan for the radial field layout, and describe how to pin the ground radial wires in place. If you are a ham radio operator and want the best performance from a ground mounted vertical antenna, you will need an effective ground radial system.

[@RedNeckSurgeyTech]

Thanks for the videos. I Installed a H4BTV with radials 360 degrees...a little over 750' of 16 AWG wire. You could use smaller but my backyard is used a lot and it needed to be able to stand up to walking on and mowing over. I also used the DXE radial plate and install kit. The whole thing cost about $500. It works great!!! I have made contacts in Italy, Puerto Rico, Canada, Brazil and of course all over the USA.

[@joeframo3347]

Graham you did an excellent job beautiful installation you're a man after my own heart thank you again for sharing from Atlanta Georgia

[@CrisisGuildWOW]

Might want to mention here that there is no need to cut the wires to any sort of wave length. Just run them straight out as far as you can in each direction.

[@Penn1969]

Exactly how much pole have you got sticking out of the ground for the Hustler to attach onto?, Looks like around 18 inches or so

[@Paul_KG]

What is the diameter of the concrete pad that you used? Did you use a concrete tube form? If so did you have to offset the mounting pipe to make the radial plate symmetrical on the concert pad?

[@roblosie9253]

I have a hustler but I'm afraid the riding mower would catch one or many of the radials while mowing. I was thinking I need to cut some kind of grove in the lawn and insert the wire in the ground. Is this not a worry I never hear anyone talk about it. ???

[@9mmsteve]

Why do some antennas recommend radials (or should I say counterpoise) be above the ground?

[@dh4jkjens895]

Thanks for load up the video. vy 73 de Jens DH4JK.

[@CT1JRZ]

Thanks for sharing

[@Bullworm562]

@JMLUVZ2FLY As long as the radio covers the HF bands then I'd say yes

[@1guysmilely]

if you only have 3' space along house and fence and for radials would this antenna still work? I have like no space or tree's.

[@Dwg67]

1guysmilely yes any amount of radials will help they don’t have to be resonant length when the antenna is mounted on the ground. I have the same issues with space so I put about 25 or so down and it made a big difference.

[@ddmacy]

I tried to find the radial wires online but was unable to find them. I tried to send you an email from the qrzed page but it bounced any help you could give me in finding any inexpensive wire would be appreciated.

[@madjack5002]

Get a100 ft spool of 14/12 awg, braided insulated wire. You don't have to cut them to be resonant like he did. The ground will just detune them in the end. The purpose of the ground radials is to create a launch angle not to balance the antenna. Short radials increase the launch angle, long radials decrease the angle.