[600MRG] From Doc VK5BUG - Radial system, RW & shed bonding etc

[D.J.J. Ring, Jr.]

Hello everyone,

I know Doc is a member of this group.  He sent me by direct email a very
interesting message about radials which seem to be a primary factor in
having a decent signal on Medium Wave (MW) transmissions like those we are
interested in.

Enjoy this.

The text of the message is below, but because this group does not allow
attachments, I am giving you a link so that you can see the interesting
photos he sent.

View https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/radio-officers/ZdI87WizdMg

73

David N1EA WD2XSH/18


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Wescombe-Down <d.wd at bigpond.com>
Date: Tue, Jan 20, 2015 at 6:29 AM
Subject: Fw: Radial system, RW & shed bonding etc
To: Yann <nibdenib at numericable.fr>, "D.J.J. Ring, Jr." <n1ea at arrl.net>



 Doc VK5BUG

Marconi School of Wireless COCP

QRZ.com

Operator: RMS Titanic/VK5MGY Centenary Special Callsign activation 2011-12


Hello Yann & Dave

I hope that you & your folks are going well, Yann. Thinking of you.
Greetings from Down Under to you again, Dave.

In case it is of interest here are some pix of how I went about
optimising my earth mat system that includes 60 wire radials from 20 to
195ft long. I get asked about it a lot so finally took a set of pix.

First, I designed the skyhook to suit my purpose & space
access/availability. I know that my systems are detailed & will therefore
have to be done in stages.

Then I started with a radial plan & installed them: at least four of the
longest before anything else got done. Everything was cleaned, soldered;
conductive paste & SS hardward used @ every junction.
Experience has shown me that to install an aerial FIRST means operating
will happen before radials are completed properly & therefore the aerial
system is most likely NEVER to reach its optimal potential.

Second came the feedline, since 1975 almost always balanced line for me &
from the aerial base/feedpoint right to the balanced aerial coupler
terminals @ the operating desk. No baluns, no coax on the output side of
the coupler.
There will be one exception & that will be the switchable new MF aerial for
630 & 160m which will have RG213 to a HV block mica series coupling
capacitor @ the aerial base because I am installing one freq system @ a
time.

Thirdly, I fabricated/assembled the aerial, tuned & tested it on air. Made
any mods, siliconed everything for which I had used conductive paste &
joining hardware & hi ho away I go!!

Anyway, in the attached pix:

128 is a RW tank bonded to a short radial @ the aerial base

129 radial bonded to Mum's garden shed then continued on for another 10m or
so

130 RW tank bonded to the workshop shed which is already bonded to the
radial system (see next pic)

131 several radials bonded to the workshop shed as above. Note a pair of
radials run in the paving slab channel & smothered with silicone: these
head out to the opposite side of the yard boundary fenceline for about 165ft

132 bonding to both the cold & hot water copper pipe networks (quite
extensive throughout our 90yo dual residential house). Also connects with
one of the domestic earthing stakes as shown.

133 shows fence iron sheets & both metal fence rails bonded together with
copper wire bridges. The black wire is buried under 3 sets of path
paving so it could be bonded to the copper pipes as per pic 132

Each of these has been tested for bonding continuity before silicone was
applied.

As I previously had a large Inverted-L & ran a pair of 195ft radials right
below it, the new one will be in the same spot so will have that as well.
Good practice for any end fed aerial in my opinion.

I have a few more tanks to bond & once an E boundary neighbour fence issue
is resolved, I will be able to get more done over on that side of the
block.

Worth noting is that if I ever have any visitors with braces on their
teeth, they had better not stand still for long or they may too, find
themselves ''bonded to me" !!

Another one arm challenge for me that does also involve a considerable
amount of stooping - so I dragged an old cushion around with me & simply
lay down on one side to do the ground level stuff. I get too fatigued &
sore  in the low back & hips otherwise!!

Hope this has been of interest.

Very 73 de Me