Grounding Question
 

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?

Grounding Question
 

In article ,
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?

Sometimes your ground connection has noise on it, so if you hook to the
receiver, it becomes common mode and cancels out the local noise the
antenna is picking up. Your milage may vary.

Mark Zenier
Googleproofaddress(account:mzenier provider:eskimo domain:com)

Grounding Question
 

BCBlazysusan wrote:
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?


An easy experiment would be to temporarily put a switch in series with
the ground wire. Then switch the ground in and out while listening to
a weak station. If there is a real improvement with the grounding, it
should be obvious by ear or by looking at the "S" meter.

I'm skeptical that it will improve reception. You may just be
expecting it to because you went through the trouble. Some folks swear
their car runs better after they wash and wax it!

Art Harris N2AH

Grounding Question
 

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

Grounding Question
 

In article
,
Art Harris wrote:

BCBlazysusan wrote:
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?


An easy experiment would be to temporarily put a switch in series
with the ground wire. Then switch the ground in and out while
listening to a weak station. If there is a real improvement with the
grounding, it should be obvious by ear or by looking at the "S"
meter.

Good advice.

I'm skeptical that it will improve reception. You may just be
expecting it to because you went through the trouble. Some folks
swear their car runs better after they wash and wax it!

My car does.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

Grounding Question
 

In article
,
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?

Whether the radio ground makes a difference or not depends on the kind
of antenna you are using, if there are other grounds, and how much noise
is on the mains the radio is plugged into.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

Grounding Question
 

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

BC,

Ground ground ground. I ground everything.



I use coaxial cable to get all three of my antenna's in the
house then I ground the sheathe and the radios to a ground rod.

When you test don't use a switch because of the ground potential
of the EMF around the switch parts. Open the ground all the way and keep
your hands away.



Burr

Grounding Question
 

In article ,
"Burr" wrote:

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

BC,

Ground ground ground. I ground everything.



I use coaxial cable to get all three of my antenna's in the
house then I ground the sheathe and the radios to a ground rod.

When you test don't use a switch because of the ground potential
of the EMF around the switch parts. Open the ground all the way and keep
your hands away.

Yeah, you can do better by keep yourself away from the news group you
sick puppy.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

Grounding Question
 

On Feb 16, 4:27*pm, Art Harris wrote:
BCBlazysusan wrote:
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?

An easy experiment would be to temporarily put a switch in series with
the ground wire. Then switch the ground in and out while listening to
a weak station. If there is a real improvement with the grounding, it
should be obvious by ear or by looking at the "S" meter.

I'm skeptical that it will improve reception. You may just be
expecting it to because you went through the trouble. Some folks swear
their car runs better after they wash and wax it!

Art Harris N2AH- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

No Art, I wasn't expecting it to help in reception, it never has
before (that I know of.) I took off the ground to see, and it didn't
make any difference on the meter or ear. The day before I grounded the
radio I increased the height of the antenna (A-D sloper) another ten
feet. I wouldn't think that would make the difference either.

I think the conditions have been pretty good. I always have a low
noise floor but it was so low I reached around to the back of the
radio to see if the antenna was connected, that's how quiet it is.
Same way tonight. For example, on 2.331 right now the meter is showing
just over 0 and that usually has a lot of static on those bands when
no one is talking. Maybe I shouldn't question it, just be glad. :-)

Grounding Question
 

On Feb 16, 1:27*pm, Art Harris wrote:
BCBlazysusan wrote:
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?

An easy experiment would be to temporarily put a switch in series with
the ground wire. Then switch the ground in and out while listening to
a weak station. If there is a real improvement with the grounding, it
should be obvious by ear or by looking at the "S" meter.

I'm skeptical that it will improve reception. You may just be
expecting it to because you went through the trouble.

- Some folks swear their car runs better
- after they wash and wax it!

Actually It Does !
- - - but you have to be going 120 MPH
to feel the difference ;;-} ~ RHF
{Less Drag}


Art Harris N2AH