Best wire for ground radials. Also overkill is using 16ga wire; I use 22ga insulated/stranded, which works great up to 100W and probably way beyond. Aug 18, 2025 · I discus my experience with the Gabil GRA-7350T antenna and the need for custom ground radials. One wire of the feedline connects to the base of the antenna, and the other connects to ground. . It lives in a harsh environment. The ground side is a series of radials that all group into a connection at the base of the pipe, and are insulated from the pipe (red part). A few radial wires will provide a moderately low loss connection. And more the Jan 21, 2024 · This is my version of a home made ground mount HF multi band antenna that covers 10m, 12m, 15m, 17m, 20m, 30m, and 40m. Ground radials for 1/4 wave vertical Been playing around with 1/4 wave (wire) verticals on the 10-20m bands. I also have a wolf river coil antenna as well. And please contribute to the discussion. They are a really simple design and are easy to work on since they do not require a tower. What is the best wire for ground mounted radials? Recommendations Since the broadcast industry has always used bare solid copper wire, it has become the standard for radial systems. I have experimented with different ground radial setups myself, as well as read and watched others do the same. Which type of antenna are you making? Jan 16, 2026 · This guide covers what ground radials actually do, why you need them, and what happens when you go from 1 to 3 to 32 radials. The metal in the radial wire may corrode. 73 Callum. I would like to know if there is an electrical difference between 14 gauge and 18 gauge wire when used as a radial ground system? I would also like to know how long the 18g will last compared to the 14g? Jul 19, 2024 · BNTECHGO silicon wire is very popular for antennas and radials. However, for a given radial length there is a point beyond which you are pretty much wasting your time; and for a given amount of wire there is an optimal way to use it. The jacket of the wire may degrade. Mar 3, 2021 · Bare or insulated copper radials are the best choice, with insulated wire being more durable. I'll echo what some other folks have mentioned: 33 radials is overkill. May 28, 2021 · One wire goes to the antenna vertical element, the other wire goes to the ground radials. Our Radial Wire is a flexible, highly conductive stranded copper wire specifically selected for use in ground radial systems for vertical antennas, HF ground planes, and lightning protection networks. I use the 18 Gauge wire (linked) with my REZ Recon 40 antenna and it works well. DX Engineering Premium Radial Wire DX Engineering Premium Radial Wire will help you to achieve optimal performance with a ground-mounted vertical and install as many radials as possible. For use in POTA and SOTA activities. I learn about wire gauge and insulation from a video by Dave Casler, deciding on 24-gauge silicone wire for portability at 100W. Jul 19, 2024 · BNTECHGO silicon wire is very popular for antennas and radials. These PVC-insulated stranded copper radial wires are UV-resistant and roll out easily, unlike the wire that is commonly available at "big-box" stores. Enjoy. In addition the longer the radials the more radials you can use efficiently. However, it is also possible to capacitively couple the ground to the antenna -- and this is how mag mount monopoles work, with the car body (or other large metal surface under the antenna) acting as part of the antenna. A quarter-wave vertica is a popular example. It is flexible and rolls up easily. In this video, I bring the topic of ground mounted radials for vertical antennas down to an easy-to-follow theory. However, it doesn't make any practical difference whether the copper wire is stranded or solid, bare or insulated. I wouldn't go all the way down to 4 radials, but between 8 and 16 should get you some success. I know ideally you want 1/4 wave radials for the indented band. Animals may chew on some of the wires. BNTECHGO wire It can be bought in divergence wire gauge, colors and spool sizes. Using thick wire doesn’t change ground loss enough to justify the higher cost. Oct 23, 2019 · A radial field doesn’t live inside the computer model on your computer. I have also used the same wire to make EFHW antennas. It lives outside, on the ground, in New England weather, and with New England critters digging at it. These radials can be darn near any wire you can find. I've found that the best wire is something like #14 or #12 THHN or solid copper wire. The connection to ground has to have a low RF resistance, or you'll expend too much of your power heating the ground. We'll talk about how they affect SWR and efficiency, and why adding more after 32 rarely makes sense. It can be bought in divergence wire gauge, colors and spool sizes. What is the best wire for ground mounted radials? Since the broadcast industry has always used bare solid copper wire, it has become the standard for radial systems. nrdxvhe tlwqiux mxmg dud mkpu sdks glreqd jsqc zmbuav raho