With regard to installing radials on the ground: I used a weed whacker configured as an edge trimmer to make a cut through the grass. Feed the radial wire in the slit and use staples as Bob suggests to secure the wire. In a month or so, the grass grows over the wire and poses no problem mowing.
73 de Ed On Sun, Jan 16, 2022 at 8:24 PM Bob McGraw <rmcg...@benlomand.net> wrote: > I made a handful of staples using some scrap solid wire. #10, #12, #14 > works great and no need to remove the insulation. Make them about 4" > long per side, and place them over the radial, pushing them into the > ground. I agree, cut the grass short, pull the radial tight and "staple > it to the ground". > > I don't care for nails, or the likely hood of such, in my lawn tractor > tires. > > 73 > > Bob, K4TAX > > > > On 1/16/2022 11:40 AM, elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net wrote: > > Message: 9 > > Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2022 11:20:11 -0500 > > From: Tom & Barb Valosin<valo...@midtel.net> > > To:elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] On ground - in ground radials > > Message-ID:<8d6b4b1b-cd91-59ba-c485-0f49b0d5a...@midtel.net> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed > > > > Now in my mid seventies I have embraced the idea of conservation of > > energy. Digging in radials does not interest me. Likewise, catching them > > in lawn equipment is also a PIA. So, here is what I have done and it has > > worked well. I trim the grass.? Then I use a length of string and > > stretch it out along the path of the future radial. Next I take a > > "weed-wacker" and shorten the grass a bit more. Now I use any old > > available can of spray paint and spray a few marks along the length of > > the string. Remember to roll up the string now - no longer needed. Then > > I take my radial wire, make the connection at the antenna base and > > stretch the wire out along the marked path. Depending of the > > levelness/evenness of the surface I then take a nail and make one wrap > > of the radial around the nail, tighten the wire so it is straight with > > no loops and insert the nail into the dirt. Do this along the length of > > the radial. Typically I do it about every 10 to 15 feet. In a couple of > > days the grass grows and the wire is so low (deeply embedded) in the > > grass that mowing will not be an issue. The entire radial system need > > not be done at one time and it is easy to add radials if you wish. HINT > > - get a grandchild to help, or a neighborhood youngster or a person > > working toward their license or one of the younger club members or ..... > > anyone but yourself. Remember however to compensate them for their time > > and effort! > > > > Tom, WB2KLD > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to k2te....@gmail.com ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
