Excellent video. Been a ham since 1978 and never done a vertical with radicals but, after seeing this, going to out one up for 40 meters and maybe 20 meters. I might just do a DX Commander! Thank you Callum. 73s ND4A
Excellent video. Speaking of radials, please reupload some of your discussions on radials and numbers vs length. Those were some of the most invaluable ones out there to dispel the myths of "you have to have long radials" to get on the air.
Did this years ago, Made a 10 meter 1/4 wave vertical 9 feet off the ground to the top of the vertical with about 40 ground radials buried 1 inch deep and it was terrible for ground wave but great for very short skip about 300 to 1000 miles.
another guy laid out radials that didn’t touch the ground, they went to spikes with loops say 6 inches above the ground. In my case I laid out four radials on a concrete back yard.
Hi, thanks for the great videos. Great antenna. SWR is 1.6/1 down to 1.1/1 on all the bands I installed including the 80-meter band. No extra tuning done. I used the 28 6-meter radials.
I’d bring back the guide to radials, or how many do I need, video . I have sent people there a few times when discussing radials. I thought it was a good one…
That looks great. But how does it look in 6 mos or a year later? Like if you have to move, do you pull the radials out? or do you just ignore them and walk away?
Okay Cal - one more thing. I got the huge balcony, about 4 m above the ground. Should i install the vertical on ground, or on balcony? I know it will change the radiation plot, but how about efficiency of a 1/4 vert? Should the radials be for 1/4 each band, or just... like you? Im afraid i will not be able to tune it with various radials lenght. 73!
Right.. I would do whatever works physically and practically.. From the data I have seen, taking even small elevated radials (and the coax) most folks tend to get a decent match regardless.. I know this isn't in "the books" but I would just do what ever suits you in that scanario from an engineering point of view.. The RF will still leave the antenna.. In your case, you don't have much choice..
@@DXCommanderHQ oh well, its not as bad as you think :) From my daily qth it indeed is (hf-3-explorer with the radials...) but at my parents i have a couple of meters of yard. But to be honest, installation on the balcony would be more handful for me. The main problem is the air electric network which is about 10 meters from my fence, 50 Hz makes noisy background for S9... Still, i have to move my antennas to other side, see whats going on there. Thank you for your work Cal, you are the inspiration for many. See ya! SP7EZG
I wonder if using the galvanized steel ones for landscape will work. I wonder because I have put more than 25 radials in my backyard using the steel ones and the results I'm getting are not good at all. Could be something else but now I wonder if the plastic vs steel makes a difference. The terrain in my backyard is pure sand, I wonder if those little ones are going to hold down
Do you have retune the antenna after you have buried the radials in the ground. Because i found that my swr curve moved after i have placed them 2cm underground
What do you win with these ground wires? I know they work as ground, but what do they actually count to antenna gain or SWR etc. What about a good earth connection like for flash protection?
K, newbie here trying to figure out options to get into hf and it be agreeable to the wife & safe for kids. I hope you see this and can answer it. If youve got a video on these answers, feel free to give a link. My question on the radials is - im not concerened with any tripping hazards with them, but are they a resonate danger? Ie. If/when transmitting, are the radials any risk for shock or burns? Likewise, on the dx commander. The antenna goes to ground level. Everything I've heard about antenna's says keep it above what anyone can touch because they could get shocked or burned when transmitting. Isnt there a risk for this on the dx commander as well? Does a parameter need to be set up around the base?
@m0mcx Thank you. Good to know on the radials. And how about the actual antenna wires? Doesn't the access to the actual antenna wires within reach from the ground on the dx verticle antennas pose an rf burn risk? Kids may be outside playing and try to mess with the wires when I'm transmitting.
Do radials have to be 90 degrees in relation to the vertical driver element? I can hydraulic-drill 10m of 15mm copper pipe around my vertical into the ground and use the copper pipe as my radials? As long as total of copper pipe is 4 wavelengths? Or will the earth "mask" the length of copper pipe I drilled into the ground?
@@DXCommanderHQ Thank you very much for the reply and advise Calum. Much appreciated. I’m new to this hobby, so still have a LOT to learn and experiment with. 73
I know this is 5 months later. I have been thinking of easy ways to deploy radials, without fighting. I thought about radial secured to a tarp, 550 (parachute) cord tied in a fan configuration, or tent spike. I was looking for a fast and dirty way to deploy 16 radials, in a park. What are your thoughts? And the thoughts of other viewers. I’m curious. I can’t do anything in my apartment complex. Unless I try the gutters, somehow. Thanks Andre N2JDH Btw my call accidentally means Nice 2 Just Drive Home.
16 radials easy.. That 4 radials on ONE connector and 4 byunchges of them. WIll take approx 90 seconds using the right wire (DX10 is about the ONLY wire I know that would do this and lay flat instantly.
Radial pins: I live in the desert, so I'd be putting them into sand (like on a beach) --- they need to be about 1/4 meter long each (vs 1/10 meter) ....
My back hurts just watching this video!
Excellent video. Been a ham since 1978 and never done a vertical with radicals but, after seeing this, going to out one up for 40 meters and maybe 20 meters. I might just do a DX Commander! Thank you Callum. 73s ND4A
Have fun!
Excellent video. Speaking of radials, please reupload some of your discussions on radials and numbers vs length. Those were some of the most invaluable ones out there to dispel the myths of "you have to have long radials" to get on the air.
Coming next.. give me a couple days..
Did this years ago, Made a 10 meter 1/4 wave vertical 9 feet off the ground to the top of the vertical with about 40 ground radials buried 1 inch deep and it was terrible for ground wave but great for very short skip about 300 to 1000 miles.
Ah yes! Well spotted (ground vs skip)
Right after I viewed this, I ordered a pack of lawn spikes from you,Thank you Cal. I have a 40m vertical to go up soon.
Ah great!
I've seen this video before and I still dig it! Rock on!
Thanks for the easy hint. My Commander arrives this Wednesday!
Hope you enjoy it!
Excellent. Completely understand all your five-star reviews. I'm in !
You're in! Indeed friend!
Fun video. I also enjoyed your standard poodle. People don’t know just how smart they are.
Yes they are!
another guy laid out radials that didn’t touch the ground, they went to spikes with loops say 6 inches above the ground. In my case I laid out four radials on a concrete back yard.
Hi, thanks for the great videos. Great antenna. SWR is 1.6/1 down to 1.1/1 on all the bands I installed including the 80-meter band. No extra tuning done. I used the 28 6-meter radials.
Perfect!
Nice to see some of the older build. Thanks Calum 😊
KQ4CD
My pleasure!
Thanks Calum, Always interesting videos! 👍
My pleasure!
Well I started a new Discord session and it worked. Go Figure!!
Woohoo!
I’d bring back the guide to radials, or how many do I need, video . I have sent people there a few times when discussing radials. I thought it was a good one…
Coming Tyler.. I can’t upload fast enough! 😃
That looks great. But how does it look in 6 mos or a year later? Like if you have to move, do you pull the radials out? or do you just ignore them and walk away?
Walk away...! You can remove them.. Start at one end and ping the pins out. Problem though, they do tend to bury themselves.
Okay Cal - one more thing. I got the huge balcony, about 4 m above the ground. Should i install the vertical on ground, or on balcony? I know it will change the radiation plot, but how about efficiency of a 1/4 vert? Should the radials be for 1/4 each band, or just... like you? Im afraid i will not be able to tune it with various radials lenght. 73!
Right.. I would do whatever works physically and practically.. From the data I have seen, taking even small elevated radials (and the coax) most folks tend to get a decent match regardless.. I know this isn't in "the books" but I would just do what ever suits you in that scanario from an engineering point of view.. The RF will still leave the antenna.. In your case, you don't have much choice..
@@DXCommanderHQ oh well, its not as bad as you think :) From my daily qth it indeed is (hf-3-explorer with the radials...) but at my parents i have a couple of meters of yard. But to be honest, installation on the balcony would be more handful for me. The main problem is the air electric network which is about 10 meters from my fence, 50 Hz makes noisy background for S9... Still, i have to move my antennas to other side, see whats going on there. Thank you for your work Cal, you are the inspiration for many. See ya! SP7EZG
I wonder if using the galvanized steel ones for landscape will work. I wonder because I have put more than 25 radials in my backyard using the steel ones and the results I'm getting are not good at all. Could be something else but now I wonder if the plastic vs steel makes a difference. The terrain in my backyard is pure sand, I wonder if those little ones are going to hold down
OK, so the pins won't make any difference.
Do you have retune the antenna after you have buried the radials in the ground. Because i found that my swr curve moved after i have placed them 2cm underground
Erm.. My tune has gone lower by about 50kHz on 80m band over last 18-months... So maybe! I don't know if it was the coil or the ground changing.
What do you win with these ground wires? I know they work as ground, but what do they actually count to antenna gain or SWR etc. What about a good earth connection like for flash protection?
They make the antenna efficient so that your transmit and receive gets out. Flash protection.. Big topic :)
K, newbie here trying to figure out options to get into hf and it be agreeable to the wife & safe for kids. I hope you see this and can answer it. If youve got a video on these answers, feel free to give a link.
My question on the radials is - im not concerened with any tripping hazards with them, but are they a resonate danger? Ie. If/when transmitting, are the radials any risk for shock or burns? Likewise, on the dx commander. The antenna goes to ground level. Everything I've heard about antenna's says keep it above what anyone can touch because they could get shocked or burned when transmitting. Isnt there a risk for this on the dx commander as well? Does a parameter need to be set up around the base?
The radials will be effectively inert. I say effectively because all the current is dissapated early on. Literally nothing will happen.
@m0mcx Thank you. Good to know on the radials. And how about the actual antenna wires? Doesn't the access to the actual antenna wires within reach from the ground on the dx verticle antennas pose an rf burn risk? Kids may be outside playing and try to mess with the wires when I'm transmitting.
great work mate !
good dx 73
Do radials have to be 90 degrees in relation to the vertical driver element? I can hydraulic-drill 10m of 15mm copper pipe around my vertical into the ground and use the copper pipe as my radials? As long as total of copper pipe is 4 wavelengths? Or will the earth "mask" the length of copper pipe I drilled into the ground?
Not so good.. You are building a lightning protection syste.. Radials need to be on the ground really.
@@DXCommanderHQ Thank you very much for the reply and advise Calum. Much appreciated. I’m new to this hobby, so still have a LOT to learn and experiment with. 73
Do all the radials that come in at the base get terminated somehow? Did you drive a ground rod of some sort? Thanks in advance...
No.. They come to a plate. The plate doesn't need an electrical ground unless you want a lightning conductor.
What do you expect the fencing to do to your setup?
Seems to do nothing.
@@DXCommanderHQ Thanks, I am setting up a vertical somewhat near some fencing and your reply helps!
Dog aided installation! Purfekt.
I enjoy your videos keep them coming.
Dick W2WC USA
I know this is 5 months later. I have been thinking of easy ways to deploy radials, without fighting. I thought about radial secured to a tarp, 550 (parachute) cord tied in a fan configuration, or tent spike.
I was looking for a fast and dirty way to deploy 16 radials, in a park.
What are your thoughts? And the thoughts of other viewers. I’m curious. I can’t do anything in my apartment complex. Unless I try the gutters, somehow.
Thanks
Andre N2JDH
Btw my call accidentally means Nice 2 Just Drive Home.
16 radials easy.. That 4 radials on ONE connector and 4 byunchges of them. WIll take approx 90 seconds using the right wire (DX10 is about the ONLY wire I know that would do this and lay flat instantly.
The 2 sheep in the near confuse me a bit :-) :-) They have such long paws.... ..
:-)
HAHA!
🤣
Radial pins: I live in the desert, so I'd be putting them into sand (like on a beach) --- they need to be about 1/4 meter long each (vs 1/10 meter) ....
Haha!
I would be afraid the mower would catch all those.
You shouldn't. Pinned down, you mow right over them.
Luckily, you don't have to mow your lawn!