What does the cat litter do? I've heard to use rock salt.



wrote in message
...
On 22 Dec 2005 10:11:29 -0800, "RHF"
wrote:

For One and All,

Transforming your simple Ground Rod into a Ground Anchor :
Is It Worth The Work ? - You Decide !

Building a Ground Anchor :
"IF" - You can not Bury your Coax Cable for the full run from the House
to your Antenna.
Starting at your remotely located Ground Rod far away from the House.
Take a 10 Foot piece of 1/2" Copper Pipe and an Copper Elbow.
Cut the Pipe at 18" and Solder the two pieces of Pipe together using
the Elbow.
Dig a 12" Deep 8-10 Foot long Trench from the Ground Rod toward the
House.
Run your Coax Cable through the Pipe.
Put a PL-259 Plug or other Connector on the End of the Coax Cable to
Connect to your Antenna.
Empty Half a Bag of Cat-Litter along the Trench.
Place the Pipe with the Coax Cable in it in the Trench.
Secure the Short Vertical Section of the Pipe to the Ground Rod with
three evenly
spaced Hose Clamps.
TIP - Now is a good time to add any other Ground Radials if you wish.
Empty the other Half a Bag of Cat-Litter along the Trench.
Wet down the bottom of the Trench.
Fill the Trench with Dirt.
Wet down the Dirt returned to the Trench.
NOTE - This much more work then the simple Two Ferrite Snap-On Cores at
each end of the Coax Cable. But it will kill the majority of the RFI
getting to the Antenna.
PLUS - The simple Ground Rod has been transformer into a "Ground
Anchor" with both a Deep Vertical Rod and a Shallow Horizontal Tube
enclosing the Coax Cable.


OK - Everybody get out you old GI Trenching Tool and buy some Copper
Pipe - It's Time to get Anchored ! and Well Grounded Too ! - iane ~ RHF
.
.
. .
.
Have you done this and does it improve the performance of your
antenna?

GYT wrote:

What does the cat litter do? I've heard to use rock salt.

It attracts cats from miles around. They maintain the ground rod's
conductivity by replenishing the required moisture AND reduce the
coaxial cable munching rodent population at the same time.

It's a little known fact that coax is STILL rated in ravenous Rodent
resistance. A 50 OHM (Outdoors Hungry Mice) Impedance cable is very common.








mike.

GYT wrote:
What does the cat litter do? I've heard to use rock salt.
---------------------------------
Kitty liter is made from clay.

There are 2 types of kitty liter, the common plain baked clay, and the
more
expensive clumping type. The clumping type has a odd clay (Bentonite)
that
absorbs water, swells and this clay is often used to line farm ponds to
seal
against the water draining into the soil.

Even the normal, non clumping, type holds water very well reducing the
resistance of the ground "rod" to the adjacent soil.

I have had much better luck with epsom salt. Less corosive, and less
toxic
to the lawn. Table salt is a killer on most grass.

People also like Coper Sulate, but I have read several studies by
companies
like PolyPhaser where they compared common soil treatments for
effectiveness,
cost, toxicity etc. The minimal difference between the (fairly)
nontoxic epsom salt
and the very toxic coper sulfate was shown toi be very minimal. Here
in KY if you
are caught using copper sulfate you will face serious fines.

Regardless of what type chemical, table salt, epsom salt, or copper
sulfate,
you use, you have to replace them as they leach form the soil.

Terry

Terry R2000SW,

I would agree that cost/value and effectiveness wise
that EPSOM Salt "Magnesium Sulfate" is the most
commonly available and least toxic to use.

Most local DrugsStores and the National Chains carry Epsom Salt
in Four Pound (4 Lbs.) in Half Gallon Waxcard Milk Boxes
http://herbalremedies.com/epsom-salt-4lbs.html
http://a1468.g.akamai.net/f/1468/580.../80249/300.jpg

http://www.walgreens.com/store/produ...&id=prod379057


hope this helps - iane ~ RHF

GYT,

The Theory Goes - The Cat Litter (Kitty Litter) absorbs Moisture
and holds the Moisture around the Ground Rod / Tube Area.
This improves the Ground Conductivity and the effectiveness
of the Ground System. (In Theory)

READ - Great Ground with Kitten Litter [ Bentonite ]
- by Guy Atkins on HCDX - August 10, 2000
http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx...bentonite.html
Bentonite is great for getting an excellent conductive ground.

"GROUND ROD SOIL"
My General Recommendation for Ground Rod Soil is to take
the Original Soil from the Ground Rod Hole or Trench and
create a "50 / 50 Mixture" of original Soil (50%) and the
other (50%) made up of these parts of 1/2 "Bentonite" (clay
kitty litter); 1/3 Epson Salt; and 1/6 Copper Sulfate works
well 'in-the-ground' around ground rod. Then Repeatly Water
this down and 'tamp-it-down' lightly over the next few days.

hope this helps - iane ~ RHF