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First time base installation

Tuckert,

After you get all the recommendations here and other

places, you might want to run down to your local library

and take a look at the National Electrical Code (NEC).

Take pad and pencil to make notes. (Depending on where

you live, you may be required to connect to your house

electrical ground.)

Most grounds are for electrical safety, and for lightning

protection. Very few antennas 'need' a ground. ( Antenna

makers always recommend grounding, but it's for lightning

protection.)

For RF purposes, radial ground systems are always 'better'

than ground rods. Depth doesn't 'do' that much good for

RF grounding, but the 'area' of the buried radials cover does.

If the ground radials are deep enough to ~not~ be caught

by the lawn mower, they're deep enough.

Ground straps, busses, etc, ought to be large enough to

carry any currents liable to be on them. That means that

bigger is better. If you get a 'buzz' from touching a piece

of equipment, it means the ground system is NOT, NOT

doing it's job. Find out why and correct it! Another little

bit of wisdom is not to use un-tinned braid as a ground

strap, especially if it's exposed to the weather. Just a plain

braid strap will deteriorate when exposed to all the salts,

acid, etc, in the air. A flat copper/aluminum/metal 'strap',

like roof flashing, works much better and won't deteriorate,

or at least near as fast.

Grounding seems like it should be simple, but it isn't. There

are a lot of things to take into consideration, if you want to

do it 'right'. It's your 'neck' you're protecting, so ground

accordingly...

- 'Doc










</p>
 
So if I'm understanding right, for the radio / amp RF grounding I should also run a ground strap outside, as well?



Also, I'm assuming there's no special cable considerations, right? Mini-8 would be fine?



Tuck


</p>
 
So if I'm understanding right, for the radio / amp RF grounding I should also run a ground strap outside, as well?



Also, I'm assuming there's no special cable considerations, right? Mini-8 would be fine?



Tuck


</p>
 
Tuckert,

Any grounding you do will be 'outside', I wouldn't

depend on the 'third wire' of your house wiring to

be a good ground (It may be, just depends on how

your wiring was done), but, since the ground may

have to carry some very large currents, the 'third-

wire' thing just isn't a good idea. Also depending on

your antenna, you may not need an RF ground.

By 'cable', if you mean the cable going to a ground

system, then don't use coax at all. Use either a

large wire, or the flat 'strap' stuff (I probably mis-

understood that).

The feedline to the antenna should be coax (of

course). What 'kind' depends on how long it will

be and how much you want to spend on it. "Mini-8"

should work fine, or, you might want to use one of

the 'larger' sizes. If your antenna is tuned correctly,

almost ~any~ coax should 'do' fine.

- 'Doc




</p>
 
Tuckert,

Any grounding you do will be 'outside', I wouldn't

depend on the 'third wire' of your house wiring to

be a good ground (It may be, just depends on how

your wiring was done), but, since the ground may

have to carry some very large currents, the 'third-

wire' thing just isn't a good idea. Also depending on

your antenna, you may not need an RF ground.

By 'cable', if you mean the cable going to a ground

system, then don't use coax at all. Use either a

large wire, or the flat 'strap' stuff (I probably mis-

understood that).

The feedline to the antenna should be coax (of

course). What 'kind' depends on how long it will

be and how much you want to spend on it. "Mini-8"

should work fine, or, you might want to use one of

the 'larger' sizes. If your antenna is tuned correctly,

almost ~any~ coax should 'do' fine.

- 'Doc




</p>
 
Thanks Doc....



So for the radio grounding, how did most of you get your ground strap outside the wall? The room I'm going to install in is next to an exterior wall. I can think of a few ways to get it outside, but I'd like to not figure out the best way by trial and error.



As far as the antenna mast goes....I've been debating on whether to do a roof mount or just run a pole all the way from the dirt, right next to the house. Any preferences or tips on doing it either way? I'm guessing that if I run it off the roof, I should probably do guy wires.....



thx,

Tuck


</p>
 
Thanks Doc....



So for the radio grounding, how did most of you get your ground strap outside the wall? The room I'm going to install in is next to an exterior wall. I can think of a few ways to get it outside, but I'd like to not figure out the best way by trial and error.



As far as the antenna mast goes....I've been debating on whether to do a roof mount or just run a pole all the way from the dirt, right next to the house. Any preferences or tips on doing it either way? I'm guessing that if I run it off the roof, I should probably do guy wires.....



thx,

Tuck


</p>
 
Not to say this is the way for you, but I just drilled a hole in the floor & drove the ground rod in right there. Check the sub-structure of the floor before drilling, you dont want to drill into something you didnt know was there.

__Lowes sells 40' telescoping masts for $45. & anchoring brackets too.

Good luck with the install


</p>
 
Not to say this is the way for you, but I just drilled a hole in the floor & drove the ground rod in right there. Check the sub-structure of the floor before drilling, you dont want to drill into something you didnt know was there.

__Lowes sells 40' telescoping masts for $45. & anchoring brackets too.

Good luck with the install


</p>
 

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