VE6AB Antenna Werks
Verical Antenna Radial Snow Anchors
I'm sure you have all been faced with the dilemma when laying out the radials for your favorite HF vertical antenna, and they do not want to stay layed out nice and straight.
Up until recently I just went with the flow and let the radials lie as they wished, and I know the antenna still worked, but I always found it annoying to look at these radials lying haphazardly on the ground.
Recently while browsing the isles in Home Depot I spotted these 65mm (2.5") OD curtain hangers that are made to slide over a curtain rod, and suspend curtains from the eyelet that resides on one side.
I picked one up and found they are made from a composite material that would not add anything to my tuned radials, but would be perfect for anchoring my radials in the snow, and in the summer if one wanted, you could use a plastic anchor stake through the center to hold the radials taunt.
I put them to the test with my 10-40 meter portable antenna set up in the snow, and once I stretched out each radial, I pushed each hoop into the snow with my foot, and voila, perfectly laid out radials anchored in the snow.
Now my vertical antenna radials make perfect straight lines in the snow!.
