On May 14, 7:28�am, Michael Coslo wrote:
Vertical antennas have some interesting features, but the
radials
required for them are a nuisance to install.

Ideally, we would like approximately 1 gazillion radials
for a
vertical. In reality, we often settle for less. Much less.

When installing my Butternut HF6V, I ended up laying as m
any radials as
my poor aching hockey damaged back could handle, then the next weekend
repeated the process. I eventually stumbled upon a method that was fast
and painless. Well-as long as everything went well...

So what are you vertical users radial trenching secrets,
anyhow? I'll
relay mine after things get started.

For trenching, a gas-powered lawn edger does a fine job with a
dull blade. PROVIDED...you have all the buried PVC water
sprinkler lines (if you have them) located; if you don't, that
edger will slice right through PVC pipe with little effort. :-(

Note: Edger blade rotation should be tossing excess towards
the front for safety. Anyone with lots of rocks just below the
soil (as I do) can get injured if the blade tosses things backward.

What I need is a way of getting under a sidewalk AND lots of
mature roots from tall cypresses. "Trenchless" line-laying
with a pipe and pointy nozzle to hydraulically bore into soil is
one way and will cost about $400 to $500 from a plumbing
service that does that kind of thing. [estimate] Not good.
Manual digging with a shovel for one such pass-through
takes as much effort as manual hoe-trenching a couple
dozen radials.

BTW, radials themselves can be #14 solid THHN (nylon-
jacketed PVC insulation) electrical wiring according to many
who have used that. The insulation will preserve the copper
longer and reportedly has little effect on final VSWR. Best
prices for that seem to be (locally) Home Depot in 500 foot
spools.

73, Len AF6AY