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Sinker
Intermediate Member
Username: Sinker

Post Number: 183
Registered: 8-2005


Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 7:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Does pointing the radials of a ground plane in a certain direction have any effect what-so-ever???

Like if I pointed one of the radials at Starface would I be more likely to reach him or should I use two and bracket him or does it make no difference at all???

Tim
CEF-634
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Starface
Intermediate Member
Username: Starface

Post Number: 256
Registered: 1-2005


Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 9:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There are 4 GP Radials to most all Ground Planes Antenna's that use or can use GPK,One for each direction, North,South,East and West But even tho You/We add the GPK to the antenna we have to remember it's still a Omni Dir Antenna, there for just adding the GKP don't make it work like a Beam antenna but say if I was getting S-7 without the GPK and then you added the GPK and I was now getting S-9 then they are doing what they say they do. But pointing one or two radials my way isn't going to make me hear you any better. Omni means signals are thrown 360°
Add A beam and point my way and I'm going to hear you lots better!!

Till next time

Starface CEF#476
Southeast Net Control
Auburndale,FL
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce

Post Number: 3180
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 11:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Sinker they do lower the angle but also changes the match i have played with thme in the past with limited results.
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Moonraker
Junior Member
Username: Moonraker

Post Number: 49
Registered: 3-2005


Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 11:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have heard that it is best to point the ground planes northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest insted of north, south, east, and west.
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Wildrat
Intermediate Member
Username: Wildrat

Post Number: 172
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 11:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

read this thread. look for tech 808 reply and read. "GPK for Imax 2000" It's about 10 threads down from this one. You will be looking for Tech808 bending the ears up on the GPK till the radials are at about 30 degrees. Lon/tech808 said it made his tx/rx better than just having the standard kit bolted on. When my kit gets here this week and I put the kit on I will be bending the ears up till the radial are at 30 degrees. Oh I forgot you have the Maco antenna. I guess you need to ask Lon about that one. I have an I-Max.

Wildrat
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Kid_vicious
Advanced Member
Username: Kid_vicious

Post Number: 741
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2005 - 12:14 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

the radials dont really affect the direction of a signal, and bending any of them will only decrease their functionality. the job of the radials is to keep your signal up off of the ground.

if your antenna base is up 36' or higher then you really dont need them. (this is something i read somewhere, dont flame me!)

with the base of your antenna less than one wavelength above ground (36 ft. at CB freqs.) then some of your signal is shooting straight down into the ground. the ground radials will keep it up off the ground and help put them out into the airwaves.
matt
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Kj7gs
Junior Member
Username: Kj7gs

Post Number: 33
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Friday, October 28, 2005 - 1:28 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Radials don't affect the direction of the signal. They cancel out return currents leaving only the radiating element sending out RF energy. So if you have a quarter-wave antenna at any height, you'll need radials.

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