All, I've been searching for clarity and hard data on the effects of asymmetric radials on radiation patterns and efficiency of a vertical as I'm installing a 21m vertical for 80/160 and will have to live with a radial system that is significantly compromised over a 180 degree sector.
I was a bit surprised to "not find" this subject dealt with in any clear decisive way in e.g. the ARRL Antenna Book or ON4UN's otherwise excellent Low Band DXing book (Did I miss it in either publication? If so, just send me a "your an idiot" email and I'll crawl back under my cabbage leaf suitably chastened). I was surprised as I had always assumed it is something many hams have to deal with unless they are prepared to go on "stealth missions" in the dead of night to lay radials on or under neighbours property (I don't recommend this course of action by the way; I attempted just such a thing once and got caught. As a mental exercise to occupy you during those quite times when calling CQ on a dead 160m, try explaining your way out of that one). On the basis that there might be one/some/many out there, who, like myself, are installing verticals with radial systems that are compromised directionally as well as "length-ways", I just thought I'd share what I found; N6LF's excellent (if not exactly encouraging) summary of the consequences of asymmetrical radials at http://rudys.typepad.com/files/qex-ground-systems-part-7.pdf . It's well worth the read. I hope to hear you all on the far side of the Summer... -- Regards Cormac (EI4HQ) [Cork/UTC+1] NNNN++++ http://86.43.106.118/ei4hq/ http://www.corkharbourweather.ie _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
