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Re: [TowerTalk] RF Ground is not a Myth

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] RF Ground is not a Myth
From: Jim Brown <jim@audiosystemsgroup.com>
Reply-to: jim@audiosystemsgroup.com
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:23:28 -0800
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
On Thu,1/22/2015 10:28 AM, Mike Reublin NF4L wrote:
I think the confusion exists because we insist on calling too many things 
"ground". To me, ground is earth. In electrical circuits (AC,DC,RF) there is 
return. I doubt the world is gonna adapt my view.

That is EXACTLY the problem, Mike. We try to solve hum, buzz, and RFI problems and make antennas work better by driving ground rods, when those ground rods don't help any of those things (except, of course, for RX antennas).

What DOES solve hum, buzz, and RFI problems is proper termination of cable shields, and BONDING all equipment together. What DOES make antennas work better is providing a return for antenna current that goes good places and not bad ones. That means providing a good counterpoise or radials for end-fed wires (including verticals) and using common mode chokes to keep antenna current off of feedlines.

BTW -- we exactly the same problem with the word "balun," which is used to describe nearly a dozen very different things, leading to more confusion and fuzzy thinking.

73, Jim K9YC




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