Posted: 9/23/2014 8:46:42 AM EDT
Decided a hexbeam may be more than I want to take on right now. Considering a vertical & leave my dipoles up as well. I have received some negative feedback about installing a vertical in middle of open lawn. 
If installed near edge of lawn the radial field would be on level ground on all sides but north. Can radials be sloped on one side? North side radials would have 10’ -15’ flat run, then begin uphill climb. There is an 8-10 degree slope to north, but in the remaining directions I’m good for 100’ or so. Most all verticals I see are placed on level terrain. I have a stair stepped yard with house on the level spot & slope to rear & front. This seems to be a fairly common scene here in hillbilly country.  All I know about these antenna's are from what I gleaned here.
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I can't find the image I am looking for, but I've seen a picture showing different configurations of radials and their respective gain. Out of many different radial configurations the difference was marginal.
The common tidbit of information I learned after hours of radial research is basically that more and longer is better. Put out as many as you can, in any configuration that you can, with the longest wires you can and call it good. 
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My understanding is that radials at MORE than 90 degrees from vertical will tend to pull the lobes down more and that radials LESS than 90 degrees do the opposite. How much this matters I have not modeled. But in general that means sloping down is good and up is bad. |
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Quoted:
My understanding is that radials at MORE than 90 degrees from vertical will tend to pull the lobes down more and that radials LESS than 90 degrees do the opposite. How much this matters I have not modeled. But in general that means sloping down is good and up is bad. Hmm, now that's interesting. I could put it on the other side I guess. I have a long slope downward facing south. That would also put antenna in more open space. Here is a crude pic I found online showing similar terrain. The flat area is about 125' across & several hundred feet lengthwise. The slopes in this pic are steeper than mine, but you get the idea. 
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Quoted:
The common tidbit of information I learned after hours of radial research is basically that more and longer is better. Put out as many as you can, in any configuration that you can, with the longest wires you can and call it good. Incorrect. See: http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_22/657717_Excellent_info_on_HF_ground_radial_systems.html Unless you're putting out a tremendous number of radials (like 64+), making them the correct length for the bands in use is better than too long. And, more shorter tends to be better than fewer longer. |
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Quoted:
Hmm, now that's interesting. I could put it on the other side I guess. I have a long slope downward facing south. That would also put antenna in more open space. Here is a crude pic I found online showing similar terrain. The flat area is about 125' across & several hundred feet lengthwise. The slopes in this pic are steeper than mine, but you get the idea. http://www.es-ca.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Slope-Illustration1.png Quoted:
Quoted:
My understanding is that radials at MORE than 90 degrees from vertical will tend to pull the lobes down more and that radials LESS than 90 degrees do the opposite. How much this matters I have not modeled. But in general that means sloping down is good and up is bad. Hmm, now that's interesting. I could put it on the other side I guess. I have a long slope downward facing south. That would also put antenna in more open space. Here is a crude pic I found online showing similar terrain. The flat area is about 125' across & several hundred feet lengthwise. The slopes in this pic are steeper than mine, but you get the idea. http://www.es-ca.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Slope-Illustration1.png So generally speaking you will have better low angle radiation in the direction of downhill, and more high angle radiation in the direction of uphill. |