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On Apr 15, 10:58*pm, Drakefan wrote:
Dave wrote: Michael wrote: Hiya... Been a while since I posted here. *For the sake of noise suppression as affective lightning protection is almost hopeless without gas tubes, what would be the minimum gauge wire that you could use for a ground from the radio to a ground spike and from a matching transformer to a ground spike ??? *Yes, I know there is loads of info on the net, but I would like some active opinions as some recent discussions I have had on this has been conflicting. Also... I've gotten conflicting opinions on this one too. *If you have a long wire or beverage set up on a matching transformer like the ICE 180, there is a ground receptacle on the matching transformer. *Would you: A. *Use a separate ground wire from the matching transformer to the ground spike and another separate ground wire from the receiver to the ground spike ??? or B. *Use one single ground wire from the receiver's ground port going up to the matching transformer and then to the ground spike ??? I know this stuff is antenna-101, but I'm interested to see what the opinions here are Thanx in advance !!! Mike D. Northern NJ Try both ways. *I have my MLB grounded to the support mast via the outer conductor of the RG58, about a foot from the near end of the random wire. *The mast itself is grounded. - If your balun and coax is up in the air, you don't have - an effective RF ground to prevent common mode noise - on the coax shield. Bad Coax Cable Grounding : Then run a separate Webbed Ground Wire up to the Matching Transformer. Ground "Strap" Cable http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/cable/4607.html - That's why the balun needs to be close to the ground - so you can use a short ground wire between the coax - shield and the ground rod. Yes this is 'preferred' -but- sometimes not possible to do. - This is how you achieve an effective RF ground on the coax shield. Yes very true. 1 - Achieving a good 'effrective' RF Ground on {Along} the Coax Cable's Outer Shield starts with the RF Connectors at the Ends of the Coax Cable. -if- the outer Ring of the RF Connectors are not making very good all around 'contact' with 'all' {the vast majority} of the Coax Cable Shielding Wires then your Coax Cable Shielding may not be very effective {leakage} and too since only a feww of the total Wires are connected the Coax Cable Shield will be a Higher Resistance {Reactance} then is defined for the spec. This is 'why' PL-259 Plugs that are "Soldered' to Coax Cable that uses Copper Wire Braid is generally 'preferred'. 2 - The Ground / Ground Wire 'attachment' to the Ground Rod. Note - Some will use one of these simple "Lightning Arrestors" mounted directly on a Ground Rod with Two SS Hose Clamps. 3 - The Ground / Ground Wire 'attachment' to the Matching Transformer {Balun / MLB} -or- PL-259 Plug. TIP - Full Contact Ground Wire 'attachment' to the PL-259 Plug : * Strip-Off 3 Inches of Insulation from your Ground Wire. * Solder the 3 Inches of exposed Ground Wire take a pair of Long-Nose Pliers and Shape the Gound Wire 'around' to the Outer-Threaded-Ring of the PL-259 Plug. Place a SS Hose Clamp over the 'formed' Ground Wire on the PL-259 Plug and tighten the Hose Clamp to secure the Ground Wire directly to the PL-259 Plug. ENSURES - A 'full' 360 Degree contact between the Ground wire and the Outer-Threaded-Ring of the PL-259 Plug. -Note- This is done after the PL-259 Plug has been connected to what ever it is being connected to. - It also provides a vertical section of the antenna coming - down from the horizontal wire. Yes very true. To some degree the Horizontal-Out-Arm can be directional : While the Vertical-Up-Leg is Omni-Directional : The 'combination' of the two generally makes the Inverted "L" Antenna an All-Around {Omni} Non-Directional Antenna. This is required for a true inverted-L antenna. Hence the name Inverted "L" and the shape of the Antenna. - The vertical section (wire) sometimes picks up a better - signal than the horizontal wire of the antenna so it's best - to have both sections in use. On any given day & on any given frequency : Who Knows What Possible : Practically Speaking. - Having the balun near the ground allows for this configuration. Restated another way : This configuration 'allows' the Matching Transformer to be placed : 1 - Very Near the Ground 2 - Mounted on the earthen Ground Rod : {Most Direct Grounding-Point and Connection} 3 - Places the "First-Ground-Path" Away-from-the-House and 'improves' Lightning Safety for the House and it's Occupants. 4 - Allows the Coax Cable to be on/under/near the surface of the ground. IN CONCLUSION - Here is RHF's "Tip" on Ground Wires : As Short As Possible -and- As Heavy As Practical. { Do What You Can Do To Make Both Happen } |
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