I would follow the advice of TCLAY a couple of posts back. I would add
that there should also be a low impedance ground at the shack entrance
where the lightning arrestor is placed. At that same point the rest of
the radio equipment should be grounded. One common ground point for
all. The tower ground should also be run over to that common ground
point.
The AC power that supplies your equipment should have protection
devices that connect to the common single point ground also.

All grounds in the system should be tied together.

The idea of the single point ground is to have all equipment go up in
voltage together if there is a lightning strike and fall together.
This eliminates voltage differences between parts of equipment that
causes damage.

The coax shield should be grounded to the tower at the top and the
bottom of the tower. The tower should have a substantial ground system
of several ground rods and radials.

Look at the Polyphaser site again. They show how a single point ground
system should be installed.

73
Gary K4FMX


On Sat, 29 Apr 2006 14:38:22 GMT, John Ferrell
wrote:

The low response to the question leads me to believe that many (most?)
have reached the same conclusions as I have.

That is:
Isolating the incoming antenna and control cables is the preferred
method. Providing a low impedance path to ground in the radio shack is
undesirable.

Further, adding an extra ground point in the system wherever is a
lightning no-no and introduces unknowns into the RF scheme. Especially
if one chooses to not run a 1:1 swr.

In my case the base of the tower has its own ground and is connected
to the structure lightning protection. I will continue to disconnect
and connect cables.

If an application that requires operation during electrical storms is
the norm, it becomes a different circumstance.

I will keep an open mind to the question though!
John W8CCW

On Sat, 29 Apr 2006 03:41:56 GMT, Sum Ting Wong
wrote:

On 27 Apr 2006 17:24:55 -0500, wrote:

I would like to put an arrestor in the line but recommendations are
sketchy even from those who sell them. I assume it would be most
effective at the base of the tower on the ground rod. The drawing in
the ARRL Antenna Handbook shows the arrestor on a common station
ground.
John Ferrell W8CCW