Dick,

With buried radials, they do not have to be 1/4 wave long, and a single one will probably not make much difference over your ground rod. What you want to accomplish is a "ground screen", which means many short (about 1/8 wavelength) close to the base of the radiator and a few extending out further (to 1/4 or 1/2 wavelength).

Ground conductivity plays a great part in buried radials, and what you are trying to accomplish is to increase the ground conductivity in the area at the base of the antenna.

If you were instead using elevated radials, they would have to be resonant - think of the various "ground plane" antennas that have been published - 1/4 wave radiator plus 2 or 4 1/4 wave radials. Buried radials do not have to be resonant, elevated radials must be resonant. The ground effects will alter the resonance of buried radials while radials in the air are a part of the total antenna resonance.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/29/2016 11:49 AM, Richard Fjeld wrote:
With reference to below, I have a question please.  I put up a quarter
wave inverted-L for 160 meters.  My only counterpoise is the ground rods
at the base of the tower.  I wasn't expecting much, but it does so well
I'd like to add a decent counterpoise.

If I bury a quarter wave wire, would it be best to put it under the
Ariel wire, or opposite from it?
Thanks in advance,
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