[Antennas] questions about radials

Sun Nov 27 15:59:39 EST 2005

hi
 I just installed a cushcraft ma8040 vertical ,installed the 8 
suggested radials 4 at 65 feet and 4@ 35feet. Iam in south west 
Florida,cape coral.... all loamy sand soil. Anyway the set up seems to 
work fairly well.
 Main problem is with this stuff they call grass down here ,will never 
grow over the wires which make mowing impossible.
 plus every one who walks around the yard gets hung up in the 
wires...so need to bury them.
 here are my questions, cushcraft supplied 22gage wire for the 
radials...copper with enamel coating.
 1. would going to say 14 or 12 wire help the ground system,or would I 
not notice any difference?
 2. should I stay with insulated wire or go with un insulated wire? 
Everything Ive read so far is about 50/50 on a answer to this.
 3. cushcraft says 2/4 inches below the ground if you bury the wires 
yes/no?
 My neighbor just buried about 500 foot of invisible dog fence wire 
,using a easy trencher he rented from lowes.looks like a perfect way 
for me to do the radials. Has any one else tried this machine ? a 
sharpened stright shovel ...sharp as a knife... wouldn't cut thru this 
" local grass" SO THE SPADE AND BURY thing won't work here.
 any help on this little problem,and I would be forever grateful.
 thanks
 dale WT4T