Building a 43-foot multiband vertical using aluminum tubing sections and planning the ground radial system. All ground mount antennas need a good ground plane - using 36 radials around 3 to 3.5m long each. Planning to use 14AWG stranded copper wire for radials. Questions: 1) Is 32 radials overkill for a 100W station, or should I go with the full 36? 2) Found 500ft of 18ga stranded copper for $25 - would this gauge work or stick with 14ga? 3) Any tips for a homebrew radial plate connection system?

32 radials is plenty for most installations - I run 32 32-foot radials in a spoke pattern. 18AWG will work fine at 100W, but 14AWG gives you future headroom for higher power. Use heavy-duty 8AWG copper lugs with M6 bolts for reliable connections.

More radials are always better for efficiency, especially on 80m and 40m. For field use you can lay radials on the ground and they don't have to be exact length, but for permanent installation, elevated radials at 8-12 feet work even better. Consider that for future upgrades.

A simple ground rod and 4 x 12m radials can work incredibly well if you're on a budget. Start with 16-20 radials and add more if needed. Dollar store speaker wire works for radials - just strip it apart. Focus on getting the antenna up first, then optimize the ground system.