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

Grounding Question
 

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

Grounding Question
 

On Feb 16, 4:02*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?


BCB LZS,

What you are looking for is better Signal-to-Noise
[S/N] Ratio from your Antenna & Ground System :
1 - Good * Sometimes the Signal Level will Improve
and the Noise Level may go down a little.
2 - Not-So-Good * Often the Signal Level will improve
and the Noise Level will also go up.
3 - Better * Then Again Sometimes the Signal Level
will be reduced some what and the Noise Level
will go down a lot.
4 - No Change * Nothing Changed {Oh Well}

Grounding Question
 

BCBlazysusan wrote:
Something I read on one of those links in reference to antenna height,
it says the optimal height in 25ft. That was the first height I put it
at. But I noticed a real difference at 40 ft...it was quieter. I then
upped it to 45 ft. with no difference and finally to the 55ft. All I
know is something made the noise floor go even lower. It may have been
the height and the ground or a combination of the two. Kind of hard
for me to believe that an antenna at 25 ft. would receive as well as
one at 55 ft. but who knows.


It really depends on the frequency you're trying to receive. In
general, an antenna height of 1/2 wavelength above ground is something
to aim for. At 14 MHz that's about 33 feet; at 7 MHz it's about 66
feet.

At vhf/uhf, height is everything due to the line-of-sight nature of
those signals. At hf, not so much so (although it never hurts).

Art Harris N2AH

Grounding Question
 

In article
,
Art Harris wrote:

BCBlazysusan wrote:
Something I read on one of those links in reference to antenna height,
it says the optimal height in 25ft. That was the first height I put it
at. But I noticed a real difference at 40 ft...it was quieter. I then
upped it to 45 ft. with no difference and finally to the 55ft. All I
know is something made the noise floor go even lower. It may have been
the height and the ground or a combination of the two. Kind of hard
for me to believe that an antenna at 25 ft. would receive as well as
one at 55 ft. but who knows.


It really depends on the frequency you're trying to receive. In
general, an antenna height of 1/2 wavelength above ground is something
to aim for. At 14 MHz that's about 33 feet; at 7 MHz it's about 66
feet.

At vhf/uhf, height is everything due to the line-of-sight nature of
those signals. At hf, not so much so (although it never hurts).

Because the OP is using a single wire antenna the signal to local noise
will improve with the single wire height at any frequency since the
distant signal volts per meter differential increases between the wire
and counter poise at the ground level with height.

The counter poise is grounded so local common mode noise has a place to
go other than the receiver input and with increasing height the single
wire is farther from local noise fields, which curve back to the earth.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

Grounding Question
 

In article
,
BCBlazysusan wrote:

On Feb 18, 1:35*am, RHF wrote:
On Feb 16, 4:02*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?

BCB LZS,

What you are looking for is better Signal-to-Noise
[S/N] Ratio from your Antenna & Ground System :
1 - Good * Sometimes the Signal Level will Improve
and the Noise Level may go down a little.
2 - Not-So-Good * Often the Signal Level will improve
and the Noise Level will also go up.
3 - Better * Then Again Sometimes the Signal Level
will be reduced some what and the Noise Level
will go down a lot.
4 - No Change * Nothing Changed {Oh Well}
*.
If between your Antennas and your Radio Shack you
are running Coax Cable and your Coax is Grounded :
Then 'effectively' the Radios connected to your
Antennas via the Coax are already Grounded TOO.
*.
The First Reason for a Radio Shack Ground and
Having Your Radios and Equipment Grounded IS
Electrical "Safety".
*.
Someone will most likely suggest that you use
a Ground Window or Single-Point-Ground for
your Radio Shack's Radios and
Equipmenthttp://www.comm-omni.com/edcoweb/grndw.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w
iki/Ground_(electricity)http://www.ese.upenn.edu/rca/instruments/misctutoria
ls/Ground/grd.html
*.
Other will recommend that you "Bond" All
Your Grounds per the
NEC.http://www.mikeholt.com/mojonewsarch...ounding-Part-1...
*.
-imho- An 8-Foot Ground Rod in the Earth as
close to your Radio Shack as possible and
"Bonded" to your House's Electrical System
is a good beginning for having a 'Safe' Radio
Shack. ~ RHF
*.
Alpha Delta DX-SWL Shortwave Sloper
Antennahttp://www.alphadeltacom.com/pg7.htmlhttp://www.universal-radio.com/C
ATALOG/sw_ant/0799.htmlhttp://www.alphadeltacom.com/dxswlii.htmhttp://www.al
phadeltacom.com/dxswl_ii.htmhttp://www.universal-radio.com/CATALOG/sw_ant/07
99om.html
-iirc- the DX-SWL Shortwave Sloper Antenna
does not use a Matching
Transformer.http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r.../msg/ea0bc3252
8e305echttp://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/42fe06bca65bed
3c

Shortwave Antenna Safety
Tipshttp://www.universal-radio.com/CATALOG/sw_ant/safeswl.html
*.
hope this antenna & grounding info helps
- - - iane ~ RHF {pomkia}
Twain Harte, CA -USA-
*.
Are You Interested in building a better Shortwave Listening
(SWL) Antenna ? {SWL Group} =http://tinyurl.com/ogvcf
GoTo =http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/
*.
RHF's Standard "Shortwave Radio Listener (SWL) Antennas Group"
Reference Message Signature-Line
=http://tinyurl.com/25zbrghttp://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave
/msg/411dac3b4a1798e0
*.
* Remember 55.5% of Shortwave Radio Listening (SWL)
is the Shortwave Antenna =http://tinyurl.com/ogvcf
*.
RHF's Radio Shack in Twain Harte, California -USA-
SHACK INFO =http://tinyurl.com/2skmxm
Shortwave Radio / Receiver and SWL Antenna Info
*.
Shortwave Listener QSL Reports Newsgroup : SWL :
INFOhttp://groups.google.com/group/shortwave-listener-qsl-reports/
*.
-= 6GZ4GB + 32UCPM + OGVCF + 25ZBRG + 2SKMXM =-
*.
*.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the links. I was just grounding them.....because. ;-) You
know what I mean? I wasn't doing it to try an improve anything. I have
everything outside grounded as well as one can do IMO. I was just
surprised that I could tell a difference, like I said, I actually
thought the antenna wasn't connected. That is a pretty low noise floor
IMO. ;-)

RHF posts are as retarded as ever.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

DX-SWL Shortwave Sloper Antenna - Is Your Antenna 'Sloping' ?
 

On Feb 18, 1:09*am, BCBlazysusan wrote:
On Feb 18, 1:35*am, RHF wrote:



On Feb 16, 4:02*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?

BCB LZS,

What you are looking for is better Signal-to-Noise
[S/N] Ratio from your Antenna & Ground System :
1 - Good * Sometimes the Signal Level will Improve
and the Noise Level may go down a little.
2 - Not-So-Good * Often the Signal Level will improve
and the Noise Level will also go up.
3 - Better * Then Again Sometimes the Signal Level
will be reduced some what and the Noise Level
will go down a lot.
4 - No Change * Nothing Changed {Oh Well}
*.
If between your Antennas and your Radio Shack you
are running Coax Cable and your Coax is Grounded :
Then 'effectively' the Radios connected to your
Antennas via the Coax are already Grounded TOO.
*.
The First Reason for a Radio Shack Ground and
Having Your Radios and Equipment Grounded IS
Electrical "Safety".
*.
Someone will most likely suggest that you use
a Ground Window or Single-Point-Ground for
your Radio Shack's Radios and Equipmenthttp://www.comm-omni.com/edcoweb/grndw.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wik...
*.
Other will recommend that you "Bond" All
Your Grounds per the NEC.http://www.mikeholt.com/mojonewsarch...ounding-Part-1...
*.
-imho- An 8-Foot Ground Rod in the Earth as
close to your Radio Shack as possible and
"Bonded" to your House's Electrical System
is a good beginning for having a 'Safe' Radio
Shack. ~ RHF
*.
Alpha Delta DX-SWL Shortwave Sloper Antennahttp://www.alphadeltacom.com/pg7.htmlhttp://www.universal-radio.com/C...
-iirc- the DX-SWL Shortwave Sloper Antenna
does not use a Matching Transformer.http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...ea0bc32528e305...

Shortwave Antenna Safety Tipshttp://www.universal-radio.com/CATALOG/sw_ant/safeswl.html
*.
hope this antenna & grounding info helps
- - - iane ~ RHF {pomkia}
Twain Harte, CA -USA-
*.
Are You Interested in building a better Shortwave Listening
(SWL) Antenna ? {SWL Group} =http://tinyurl.com/ogvcf
GoTo =http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/
*.
RHF's Standard "Shortwave Radio Listener (SWL) Antennas Group"
Reference Message Signature-Line =http://tinyurl.com/25zbrghttp://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.sho...
*.
* Remember 55.5% of Shortwave Radio Listening (SWL)
is the Shortwave Antenna =http://tinyurl.com/ogvcf
*.
RHF's Radio Shack in Twain Harte, California -USA-
SHACK INFO =http://tinyurl.com/2skmxm
Shortwave Radio / Receiver and SWL Antenna Info
*.
Shortwave Listener QSL Reports Newsgroup : SWL : INFOhttp://groups.google.com/group/shortwave-listener-qsl-reports/
*.
-= 6GZ4GB + 32UCPM + OGVCF + 25ZBRG + 2SKMXM =-
*.
*.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Something I read on one of those links in reference to antenna height,
it says the optimal height in 25ft. That was the first height I put it
at. But I noticed a real difference at 40 ft...it was quieter. I then
upped it to 45 ft. with no difference and finally to the 55ft. All I
know is something made the noise floor go even lower. It may have been
the height and the ground or a combination of the two. Kind of hard
for me to believe that an antenna at 25 ft. would receive as well as
one at 55 ft. but who knows.

WRT - DX-SWL Shortwave Sloper Antenna
? Is Your Antenna 'Sloping' ?
http://www.alphadeltacom.com/pg7.html
Top Starting Peak Height in Feet ___
and Bottom End Height in Feet ___

Shortwave Radio Listeners (SWL) : Are Your Antenna and Ground ReallyWorking Together ?
 

On Feb 18, 12:41*am, BCBlazysusan wrote:
On Feb 18, 1:35*am, RHF wrote:



On Feb 16, 4:02*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?

BCB LZS,

What you are looking for is better Signal-to-Noise
[S/N] Ratio from your Antenna & Ground System :
1 - Good * Sometimes the Signal Level will Improve
and the Noise Level may go down a little.
2 - Not-So-Good * Often the Signal Level will improve
and the Noise Level will also go up.
3 - Better * Then Again Sometimes the Signal Level
will be reduced some what and the Noise Level
will go down a lot.
4 - No Change * Nothing Changed {Oh Well}
*.
If between your Antennas and your Radio Shack you
are running Coax Cable and your Coax is Grounded :
Then 'effectively' the Radios connected to your
Antennas via the Coax are already Grounded TOO.
*.
The First Reason for a Radio Shack Ground and
Having Your Radios and Equipment Grounded IS
Electrical "Safety".
*.
Someone will most likely suggest that you use
a Ground Window or Single-Point-Ground for
your Radio Shack's Radios and Equipmenthttp://www.comm-omni.com/edcoweb/grndw.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wik...
*.
Other will recommend that you "Bond" All
Your Grounds per the NEC.http://www.mikeholt.com/mojonewsarch...ounding-Part-1...
*.
-imho- An 8-Foot Ground Rod in the Earth as
close to your Radio Shack as possible and
"Bonded" to your House's Electrical System
is a good beginning for having a 'Safe' Radio
Shack. ~ RHF
*.
Alpha Delta DX-SWL Shortwave Sloper Antennahttp://www.alphadeltacom.com/pg7.htmlhttp://www.universal-radio.com/C...
-iirc- the DX-SWL Shortwave Sloper Antenna
does not use a Matching Transformer.http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...ea0bc32528e305...

Shortwave Antenna Safety Tipshttp://www.universal-radio.com/CATALOG/sw_ant/safeswl.html
*.
hope this antenna & grounding info helps
- - - iane ~ RHF {pomkia}
Twain Harte, CA -USA-
*.
Are You Interested in building a better Shortwave Listening
(SWL) Antenna ? {SWL Group} =http://tinyurl.com/ogvcf
GoTo =http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/
*.
RHF's Standard "Shortwave Radio Listener (SWL) Antennas Group"
Reference Message Signature-Line =http://tinyurl.com/25zbrghttp://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.sho...
*.
* Remember 55.5% of Shortwave Radio Listening (SWL)
is the Shortwave Antenna =http://tinyurl.com/ogvcf
*.
RHF's Radio Shack in Twain Harte, California -USA-
SHACK INFO =http://tinyurl.com/2skmxm
Shortwave Radio / Receiver and SWL Antenna Info
*.
Shortwave Listener QSL Reports Newsgroup : SWL : INFOhttp://groups.google.com/group/shortwave-listener-qsl-reports/
*.
-= 6GZ4GB + 32UCPM + OGVCF + 25ZBRG + 2SKMXM =-
*.
*.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the links. I was just grounding them.....because. ;-) You
know what I mean? I wasn't doing it to try an improve anything. I have
everything outside grounded as well as one can do IMO. I was just
surprised that I could tell a difference, like I said, I actually
thought the antenna wasn't connected. That is a pretty low noise floor
IMO. ;-)

SWLs : ARE YOUR ANTENNA and GROUND . . .
REALLY WORKING TOGETHER ? ? ?

Grounding Question
 

On Feb 19, 9:50*pm, Bushcraftgregg wrote:
On Feb 19, 7:54*am, Art Harris wrote:



BCBlazysusan wrote:
It really depends on the frequency you're trying to receive. In
general, an antenna height of 1/2 wavelength above ground is something
to aim for. At 14 MHz that's about 33 feet; at 7 MHz it's about 66
feet.

Then that may be the difference, the height. I very rarely, like maybe
not at all, venture even over 9MHz. The main band on shortwave I
listen to is the 60 and 40 meter band, so if I went another 10ft it
should be better, correct?

How high is it now? You mentioned various heights from 25 feet to 55
feet. Raising it from 25 feet to 35 feet might make a noticeable
difference. Going from 55 to 65 feet might not be worth the trouble
(except to get your ant further from man-made noise sources).

Art N2AH

- The sloper is now at 55ft.
- I thought that one post said that if it was at 65ft.
- that would be optimal for 7 MHz.
- All I basically monitor is from the 60 meter band
- to 7MHz. Not that I don't at times go outside those.
- I have another long length of wire for the lower bands
- if I want.

BCB LzS / BCG,

OK the 'peak' of the Alpha Delta DX-SWL
Shortwave Sloper Antenna is at 55-Feet.
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...b87d294a8e9970

Question - What is the FAR-END [Bottom]
Height in Feet :

[ ] Basically "Flat" at 55-Feet too ?

[ ] Slightly Sloping at 40~45-Feet ?

[ ] Sloping at 33~38-Feet ?

[ ] Real Sloping at 25~30-Feet ? {Roughly 45*}

[ ] Getting Nearly Vertical at 15-Feet or less ?

NOTE that the Sloper {Sloping} Leg is only 60 Feet Long.