On Feb 16, 4:50*pm, Mike wrote:
On Feb 16, 7:02 am, BCBlazysusan wrote:



I'm almost embarrased to ask this question but I want to hear what
some of you all have to say.

I know the importance of grounding, I'm a grounding freak (when it
comes to the antennas), be it here at my QTH or in the vehicle. But I
have never actually grounded any of my receivers itself. By that I
mean I have never actually grounded the radio before at my home.

I did over the weekend and I am curious - - does this make a
noticeable difference on the receiving end? I don't know if it's just
been a good listening environment over the weekend or did my grounding
of the radio make the difference.

I have noticed a 'very' low noise floor (almost to nothing) on both
the shortwave bands, especially 60 meters and also on the BCB bands.
Luckily I live out in the country away from a lot of the rf problems
people have in the city and I can't believe that I could get the noise
floor even lower than it usually is. Just good conditions this weekend
or did the grounding of the radios actually help in this?

I've tried some experiments with grounding. The only receivers I own
where it seems to make a difference are the Icom R75 and the Ten tec
RX320. It doesn't seem to make much of a difference with most portable
receivers.

Mike

MWB,

Take a Grounded Metal Plate {Aluminum Cookie Sheet} :
Place it under a 'portable' AM/FM Shortwave Radio that
is running on Batteries using only the Whip Antenna.
Sometimes the 'coupling' between the Radio and the
Ground will help to improve the reception of a
Free-Standing {In-Space} Un-Grounded Radio.

~ RHF