Easy ground options for portable verticals

Three of my criteria in choosing portable antennas for casual operation are that they be compact to carry, easy to setup up and take down, and that they not spread out over too much territory.  For these reasons, I sometimes use my Buddistick vertical. 

Radials would provide a relatively effective ground plane with this, but I rarely use them for the above reasons.  A counterpoise is one alternative, though it’s often difficult to find an adequate support for the far end. My latest solution is to use an inexpensive telescoping fishing pole for this, with a stake strapped to the handle for pushing it into the ground.  This makes for a compact package (I carry my setup in a tripod bag) and is adjustable for the height needed.

But I hate messing with counterpoises.  I’m lazy, I suppose, but they also take a lot of room and  can pose a danger of tripping.

Another alternative is to use a piece of Faraday cloth as a ground plane.  Mine is 44” x 108”, obtained from Amazon.  I use a tripod with its legs fully spread to hold the antenna (see photo), and a wire from the ground post on the mount with an alligator clip attached to the edge of the cloth.  If it’s windy, the cloth does require something to hold down the corners.  I’ve used rocks or things from my pack, but I’m planning to try small bull clips with nails through them on each corner next time I’m out.

The antenna tunes nicely this way on the bands I use – 40M, 30M and 20M – and I’ve had good results, though I haven’t used it extensively yet or tested it against the alternatives.

I’d be interested in hearing from any of you who have tried this.