Why a Hybrid Radial System Makes Sense
A reader asked a very fair question: if the IronWave6 already works well with a feedpoint around 1 meter above ground and a field of 16 to 32 ground radials of about 5 meters each, why would you add a few raised radials as well? Is one radial system not enough? And would the ground radials somehow spoil the efficiency of the raised ones?
The short answer is that the two systems do related but different jobs. Ground radials make the antenna forgiving and broadband by reducing earth loss. Raised radials create a cleaner, lower-loss RF return path and behave much more like an intentional part of the antenna system. On a vertical like the IronWave6, using both is not redundant. It is practical engineering.
Two radial systems, two different jobs
The permanent ground-radial field is the easy, everyday part of the installation. Wires on or near the ground do not need to be cut as precisely as elevated radials, and they are very tolerant of small installation differences. Their main task is simple: give RF an easier return path than raw soil. That reduces ground loss and makes the antenna behave more consistently across a wide frequency range.
That is why a modest on-ground field works so well for normal operation. It is lawn-friendly, low-profile, and stable. On the IronWave6, that kind of setup already gives very solid 20 to 10 meter performance, while 30 and 40 meters are often still usable with a tuner.
Raised radials are different. Because they are lifted away from the dirt, they couple far less strongly into lossy ground. That makes them a much cleaner RF return path, but also a more sensitive one. Their length, height, symmetry, slope, and nearby objects matter more. In practice, they behave more like active participants in the antenna system than passive helpers.
Why 30 and 40 meters benefit first
On 30 and especially 40 meters, a 6 meter radiator is a much smaller fraction of a wavelength than it is on 20 to 10 meters. That means every extra ohm of loss in the return path hurts more. This is exactly where raised radials start to earn their keep.
With only the 16 to 32 by 5 meter ground-radial field, the IronWave6 already performs very well on 20 to 10 meters. On 30 and 40 meters, however, the system benefits from a cleaner current return path. Adding a raised set can do that. In practice, a set of 6 by 6 meter raised radials can create a clear 40 meter matching dip while leaving the upper bands intact. A set of 6 by 8 meter raised radials can also pull 30 meters into a friendlier matching window.
That does not mean the ground field suddenly stopped working. It means the antenna now has a lower-loss return path on the bands that need the most help. The raised set is not replacing the ground field. It is boosting the system where the permanent ground-radial field is least efficient.
The smaller that raised set is, the more symmetry matters. Three to six raised radials can absolutely work as a practical booster, but they are not the same thing as a laboratory-perfect elevated radial system. If you want the cleanest and most predictable results, keep the raised radials as even, clear, and symmetric as the site allows.
Why the upper bands can improve too
Raised radials are not just a 30 and 40 meter trick. On higher bands, those same wires become different electrical lengths and can still help by giving the antenna a more controlled RF return path. The benefit may not always appear as a dramatic “headline gain” number on 20 to 10 meters, but it often shows up in more civilized behavior: a calmer match, more repeatable tuning, and less temptation for the feed line to become part of the antenna.
This is an important point. A hybrid radial system does not only change loss. It also changes where return current wants to flow. If the antenna sees a cleaner path on the raised set, it is less likely to drag common-mode current onto the outside of the coax. That is also why a proper feedpoint current choke remains a very good idea in this kind of installation.
Do the ground radials hurt the raised ones?
Normally, no.
The common fear is that the ground radials and the raised radials are somehow “fighting” each other. That is not the right picture. They are not two separate antennas competing for radiation. They are parallel return paths inside the same vertical system.
On bands where the raised set presents the easier RF path, most of the return current will favor that set. The ground radials then still help by reducing whatever current would otherwise flow through lossy soil. In that sense, the ground field usually complements the raised radials rather than robbing them of efficiency.
The real caution is geometry, not the mere presence of extra wires. Raised radials interact with each other and with nearby metal, fences, gutters, shrubs, wet supports, and other conductors. So yes, adding them can shift resonance or SWR a bit. That is normal. Install them as symmetrically as possible, keep them clear, and recheck tuning afterward.
Contest mode versus daily mode
This is where the hybrid approach makes real-world sense.
For everyday ragchew, the permanent ground-radial field keeps the IronWave6 tidy, forgiving, and easy to live with. You get strong 20 to 10 meter coverage without turning the garden into a radial experiment. For many operators, that is the right year-round compromise.
When a contest weekend comes around, or when you want every extra bit of 30 and 40 meter performance, clip in the raised set. That gives the antenna a stronger, cleaner return path on the lower bands without sacrificing the convenience of the permanent ground field. Ground radials for day-to-day peace; raised radials when it is time to get serious.
Raised radials are live RF conductors. Keep them out of reach, keep them away from metal and moving vegetation, and remember that rain can change how nearby objects interact with the system. A removable raised-radial set on fiberglass posts is often the smartest compromise for both performance and XYL diplomacy.
Bottom line
Yes, you can absolutely use both. On the IronWave6, the ground-radial field does not cancel the raised-radial set. The ground field keeps the installation easy, forgiving, and broadband. The raised set adds lower-loss, band-targeted leverage when you want better 30 and 40 meter performance, and it can also clean up upper-band behavior when the geometry is good and a proper choke is used.
That is not duplication. It is simply using each type of radial for what it does best.
Mini-FAQ
- Can I use ground radials and raised radials together? Yes. They are complementary return paths in the same antenna system, not competing antennas.
- Will the ground radials steal efficiency from the raised ones? Normally no. The raised set will tend to carry more return current on the bands where it offers the easier RF path, while the ground field still helps reduce soil loss.
- Why do 30 and 40 meters benefit the most? Because the IronWave6 radiator is electrically shorter on those bands, so return-path loss matters more and elevated radials can make a bigger difference.
- Do I still need a common-mode choke? Yes. A good feedpoint current choke helps keep the coax from becoming an accidental radial and makes the whole system more predictable.
- How many raised radials should I add? Three to six is a very practical booster set, but the fewer you use, the more important symmetry, clearance, and careful tuning become.
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