Re: Topband: Radial plate

[Mike DeChristopher]

Hi Tony,

I had also looked at the DXE radial plate for verticals at my new qth.
I settled instead on wide copper strap (a length of which you're
probably already purchasing for the feedpoint connections) arranged in
a square around the 4x4 and brazed the radials to that with a torch.
This is similar to the radial system construction on broadcast sites.

I'm using a commercial choke that precludes use of the "built-in"
connector on the plate and I don't intend to remove radials anytime
soon, so the screw connectors are of no additional utility to me. At
that point, it's a $60 square of holy stainless with the DXE logo on
it (x4 for a 4sq). I'm sure it's a heck of a product, though -- just
not for this installation. YMMV.

Mike N1TA


On Wed, Jun 27, 2018 at 9:12 AM N2TK, Tony  wrote:
>
> Planning on changing from elevated radials to ground mounted radials for my
> 80 M 4-sq. After twice having to rebuild the elevated radials this past
> winter from the snow/ice storms it is time to go to the ground. I plan on
> having the feedpoints on 4x4 posts with the feedpoints 3’ up from the ground
> so they don’t get snow covered often.
>
> Looking at the DXEngineering Radial plates. It looks like an easy way to tie
> the radials together on the ground then run a ground wire up to a box at the
> feedpoint. Any comments or issues with using these radial plates?
>
>
>
> Also going to use buried feedlines – RG6, ¾ wave with 8 turns through #31
> big clamp-on core at the feedpoint.
>
> 73,
>
> N2TK, Tony
>
> _
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Radial plate

[N2TK, Tony]

Wes,
Tnx for the input. 
73,
N2TK, Tony

-Original Message-
From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Wes Stewart
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 11:19 AM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: Radial plate

Tony,

I'm using a DX Engineering plate on my 160 inverted-L.  In my case, I also have 
the HD tiltover fixture mounted on a 3" diameter pipe cast in concrete.  I 
mount the plate a bit over 1" above the concrete surface so there is room to 
install the bolts around the edge of the plate from below.

As to running a ground wire up from the plate, understand that this will be 
part of the antenna.  If the coax is parallel to this I imagine some coupling 
that might defeat the choke.

Wes  N7WS


On 6/27/2018 6:08 AM, N2TK, Tony wrote:
> Planning on changing from elevated radials to ground mounted radials 
> for my
> 80 M 4-sq. After twice having to rebuild the elevated radials this 
> past winter from the snow/ice storms it is time to go to the ground. I 
> plan on having the feedpoints on 4x4 posts with the feedpoints 3’ up 
> from the ground so they don’t get snow covered often.
>
> Looking at the DXEngineering Radial plates. It looks like an easy way 
> to tie the radials together on the ground then run a ground wire up to 
> a box at the feedpoint. Any comments or issues with using these radial plates?
>
>   
>
> Also going to use buried feedlines – RG6, ¾ wave with 8 turns through 
> #31 big clamp-on core at the feedpoint.
>
> 73,
>
> N2TK, Tony
>
> _
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Radial plate

[N2TK, Tony]

Hi Frank,

Tnx for the input.  Getting input to use copper strap from the radial plate to 
the feedbox. The feedbox is where I have a relay to switch in a coil to go from 
phone to CW. I already got the cables and ferrite made up so I guess it won’t 
hurt to leave it that way. I want to keep the feedpoint off the ground because 
of snow and ice. That is why I picked 3’.

With the elevated radial system I also switched in a coil. That gave me very 
low dumped power with the Comtek box for both phone and CW.

 

73,

N2TK, Tony

 

From: donov...@starpower.net [mailto:donov...@starpower.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 11:33 AM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: Radial plate

 

Hi Tony,

 

Your proposed configuration will work fine.  Your three foot wire

is actually part of your vertical.  You're vertical will need to be

shortened a few feet to achieve resonance.

 

While its very important to use a common mode choke with

elevated radials, its completely unnecessary when you use radials

laid on the ground or slightly buried except in the case of a sparse

radial field which I'm sure will not be the case at N2TK,

 

Good luck, you'll like your results!   Its well worth the effort.

 

73

Frank

W3LPL

 

 

  _  

From: "Tony N2TK" mailto:tony@verizon.net> >
To: topband@contesting.com  
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 1:08:49 PM
Subject: Topband: Radial plate

Planning on changing from elevated radials to ground mounted radials for my
80 M 4-sq. After twice having to rebuild the elevated radials this past
winter from the snow/ice storms it is time to go to the ground. I plan on
having the feedpoints on 4x4 posts with the feedpoints 3’ up from the ground
so they don’t get snow covered often.

Looking at the DXEngineering Radial plates. It looks like an easy way to tie
the radials together on the ground then run a ground wire up to a box at the
feedpoint. Any comments or issues with using these radial plates?

 

Also going to use buried feedlines – RG6, ¾ wave with 8 turns through #31
big clamp-on core at the feedpoint.

73,

N2TK, Tony

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

 

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Radial plate

[N2TK, Tony]

Paul,
Tnx for your feedback. Good info
73,
N2TK, Tony

-Original Message-
From: Paul Christensen [mailto:w...@arrl.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 9:51 AM
To: 'N2TK, Tony' ; topband@contesting.com
Subject: RE: Topband: Radial plate

Tony,

Instead of a wire, consider using a short 1/2" wide copper strap from the
radial plate up to the coaxial input connection on your box.

I think you made the right choice in using a separate box for the feed.  I
recently did the same with NEMA 4x4x2 boxes mounted on a 2-inch pipe.  The
SO-239 mounting hole in the DXE radial plate is convenient, but not
practical for most of us since the connector is at, or near the ground
surface.  The connector then becomes susceptible to snow and/or vegetation
growing up through it.  

The DXE radial plate should have been made to accommodate standard 2-hole
lugs.  It's unfortunate because it was easy to implement at the time of
design.  2-hole lugs can’t spin and loosen on the mounting bolt when
accidentally struck.  That would have brought the plate up to commercial
telecom standards.  When I worked for AT&T Broadband, I wrote portions of
their Network Architectural Manual that focused on facilities readiness
standards.  We required 2-hole lugs at all ground bonding points or a site
failed compliance testing.

Paul, W9AC

-Original Message-
From: Topband  On Behalf Of N2TK, Tony
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 9:09 AM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Topband: Radial plate

Planning on changing from elevated radials to ground mounted radials for my
80 M 4-sq. After twice having to rebuild the elevated radials this past
winter from the snow/ice storms it is time to go to the ground. I plan on
having the feedpoints on 4x4 posts with the feedpoints 3’ up from the ground
so they don’t get snow covered often.

Looking at the DXEngineering Radial plates. It looks like an easy way to tie
the radials together on the ground then run a ground wire up to a box at the
feedpoint. Any comments or issues with using these radial plates?

 

Also going to use buried feedlines – RG6, ¾ wave with 8 turns through #31
big clamp-on core at the feedpoint.

73,

N2TK, Tony

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband


_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Radial plate

[N2TK, Tony]

Brian,
Tnx for the info. I won a gift certificate at Dayton from DXEngineering and 
trying to decide what I should spend it on :-)
73,
N2TK, Tony 

-Original Message-
From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Brian Pease
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 10:00 AM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: Radial plate

I have a DX Engineering radial plate bolted to the tilt-over base of my 
aluminum tower.  It is very nice, and I use the coax cable feature to ground my 
feedline.

It is really overkill for your purpose.  I would crimp *_and solder _*ring 
terminals onto each radial, with perhaps 1/4" holes.  I would then stack them 
on a long 1/4-20 Stainless hex head bolt along with the wire to run up the 
pole, then seriously tighten the bolt.  Trivial cost & easier to do.

On 6/27/2018 9:08 AM, N2TK, Tony wrote:
> Planning on changing from elevated radials to ground mounted radials 
> for my
> 80 M 4-sq. After twice having to rebuild the elevated radials this 
> past winter from the snow/ice storms it is time to go to the ground. I 
> plan on having the feedpoints on 4x4 posts with the feedpoints 3’ up 
> from the ground so they don’t get snow covered often.
>
> Looking at the DXEngineering Radial plates. It looks like an easy way 
> to tie the radials together on the ground then run a ground wire up to 
> a box at the feedpoint. Any comments or issues with using these radial plates?
>
>   
>
> Also going to use buried feedlines – RG6, ¾ wave with 8 turns through 
> #31 big clamp-on core at the feedpoint.
>
> 73,
>
> N2TK, Tony
>
> _
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Radial plate

[donovanf]

Hi Tony, 


Your proposed configuration will work fine. Your three foot wire 
is actually part of your vertical. You're vertical will need to be 
shortened a few feet to achieve resonance. 


While its very important to use a common mode choke with 
elevated radials, its completely unnecessary when you use radials 
laid on the ground or slightly buried except in the case of a sparse 
radial field which I'm sure will not be the case at N2TK, 


Good luck, you'll like your results! Its well worth the effort. 


73 
Frank 
W3LPL 




- Original Message -

From: "Tony N2TK"  
To: topband@contesting.com 
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 1:08:49 PM 
Subject: Topband: Radial plate 

Planning on changing from elevated radials to ground mounted radials for my 
80 M 4-sq. After twice having to rebuild the elevated radials this past 
winter from the snow/ice storms it is time to go to the ground. I plan on 
having the feedpoints on 4x4 posts with the feedpoints 3’ up from the ground 
so they don’t get snow covered often. 

Looking at the DXEngineering Radial plates. It looks like an easy way to tie 
the radials together on the ground then run a ground wire up to a box at the 
feedpoint. Any comments or issues with using these radial plates? 



Also going to use buried feedlines – RG6, ¾ wave with 8 turns through #31 
big clamp-on core at the feedpoint. 

73, 

N2TK, Tony 

_ 
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband 

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Radial plate

[Wes Stewart]

Tony,

I'm using a DX Engineering plate on my 160 inverted-L.  In my case, I also have 
the HD tiltover fixture mounted on a 3" diameter pipe cast in concrete.  I mount 
the plate a bit over 1" above the concrete surface so there is room to install 
the bolts around the edge of the plate from below.


As to running a ground wire up from the plate, understand that this will be part 
of the antenna.  If the coax is parallel to this I imagine some coupling that 
might defeat the choke.


Wes  N7WS


On 6/27/2018 6:08 AM, N2TK, Tony wrote:

Planning on changing from elevated radials to ground mounted radials for my
80 M 4-sq. After twice having to rebuild the elevated radials this past
winter from the snow/ice storms it is time to go to the ground. I plan on
having the feedpoints on 4x4 posts with the feedpoints 3’ up from the ground
so they don’t get snow covered often.

Looking at the DXEngineering Radial plates. It looks like an easy way to tie
the radials together on the ground then run a ground wire up to a box at the
feedpoint. Any comments or issues with using these radial plates?

  


Also going to use buried feedlines – RG6, ¾ wave with 8 turns through #31
big clamp-on core at the feedpoint.

73,

N2TK, Tony

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband



_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Radial plate

[Brian Pease]

I have a DX Engineering radial plate bolted to the tilt-over base of my 
aluminum tower.  It is very nice, and I use the coax cable feature to 
ground my feedline.


It is really overkill for your purpose.  I would crimp *_and solder 
_*ring terminals onto each radial, with perhaps 1/4" holes.  I would 
then stack them on a long 1/4-20 Stainless hex head bolt along with the 
wire to run up the pole, then seriously tighten the bolt.  Trivial cost 
& easier to do.


On 6/27/2018 9:08 AM, N2TK, Tony wrote:

Planning on changing from elevated radials to ground mounted radials for my
80 M 4-sq. After twice having to rebuild the elevated radials this past
winter from the snow/ice storms it is time to go to the ground. I plan on
having the feedpoints on 4x4 posts with the feedpoints 3’ up from the ground
so they don’t get snow covered often.

Looking at the DXEngineering Radial plates. It looks like an easy way to tie
the radials together on the ground then run a ground wire up to a box at the
feedpoint. Any comments or issues with using these radial plates?

  


Also going to use buried feedlines – RG6, ¾ wave with 8 turns through #31
big clamp-on core at the feedpoint.

73,

N2TK, Tony

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband



_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Radial plate

[Paul Christensen]

Tony,

Instead of a wire, consider using a short 1/2" wide copper strap from the
radial plate up to the coaxial input connection on your box.

I think you made the right choice in using a separate box for the feed.  I
recently did the same with NEMA 4x4x2 boxes mounted on a 2-inch pipe.  The
SO-239 mounting hole in the DXE radial plate is convenient, but not
practical for most of us since the connector is at, or near the ground
surface.  The connector then becomes susceptible to snow and/or vegetation
growing up through it.  

The DXE radial plate should have been made to accommodate standard 2-hole
lugs.  It's unfortunate because it was easy to implement at the time of
design.  2-hole lugs can’t spin and loosen on the mounting bolt when
accidentally struck.  That would have brought the plate up to commercial
telecom standards.  When I worked for AT&T Broadband, I wrote portions of
their Network Architectural Manual that focused on facilities readiness
standards.  We required 2-hole lugs at all ground bonding points or a site
failed compliance testing.

Paul, W9AC

-Original Message-
From: Topband  On Behalf Of N2TK, Tony
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 9:09 AM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Topband: Radial plate

Planning on changing from elevated radials to ground mounted radials for my
80 M 4-sq. After twice having to rebuild the elevated radials this past
winter from the snow/ice storms it is time to go to the ground. I plan on
having the feedpoints on 4x4 posts with the feedpoints 3’ up from the ground
so they don’t get snow covered often.

Looking at the DXEngineering Radial plates. It looks like an easy way to tie
the radials together on the ground then run a ground wire up to a box at the
feedpoint. Any comments or issues with using these radial plates?

 

Also going to use buried feedlines – RG6, ¾ wave with 8 turns through #31
big clamp-on core at the feedpoint.

73,

N2TK, Tony

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Topband: Radial plate

[N2TK, Tony]

Planning on changing from elevated radials to ground mounted radials for my
80 M 4-sq. After twice having to rebuild the elevated radials this past
winter from the snow/ice storms it is time to go to the ground. I plan on
having the feedpoints on 4x4 posts with the feedpoints 3’ up from the ground
so they don’t get snow covered often.

Looking at the DXEngineering Radial plates. It looks like an easy way to tie
the radials together on the ground then run a ground wire up to a box at the
feedpoint. Any comments or issues with using these radial plates?

 

Also going to use buried feedlines – RG6, ¾ wave with 8 turns through #31
big clamp-on core at the feedpoint.

73,

N2TK, Tony

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband