Amateur Radio Stack Exchange
Amateur Radio Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [grounding]

Use this tag for questions relating to RF and DC grounding in radio equipment. Specifically suggested methods, practices, equipment and regulations regarding grounding.

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How to detect common-mode currents or “RF in the shack”?

Let's say we already know that if your antenna is not suitably constructed or connected then you can get current on the shield of your coaxial feed line which will flow through the shielding/grounding of your equipment, becoming “RF in the shack”,…
Kevin Reid AG6YO
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Handheld Dipoles

A problem with handheld devices is poor grounding. I read from someone else's question that dipoles don't need a ground. Why don't they make little handhelds with two antennas instead of one, or a little T antenna, which has extendable arms? _ _ …
Skyler 440
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How do I prevent radio signals from tripping a GFCI?

My wife woke up several nights by a metallic "thunk". It happened to be while I was talking on 10 meters and turned out to be the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) on her hair dryer cord. Apart from the obvious answer of leaving it…
Peter KB1AVL
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When is RF grounding necessary, and when is it not?

I've seen many installations, particularly at field day and also in second-floor installations, where RF grounding is ignored entirely. What are the drawbacks to this and when is it absolutely essential to have RF grounding?
Bill - K5WL
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Should I ground my radio to the chassis or battery for a mobile install?

From what I've seen, there are generally two ways to power a mobile radio: Positive lead to battery, negative lead grounded to chassis Both positive and negative leads to battery I know that antennas should be grounded to the chassis, but what…
Ben
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Grounding a second-story shack with an outdoor antenna

My shack is on a second story, really far away from the house ground. To run a ground from my equipment to the outside/ground is a run of at least 60-75 feet. The antenna is at least 100 feet away as well. How do I ground this system? I cannot reach…
Jay
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Grounding VHF base station antenna

I'd like to install an outdoor dual band VHF/UHF base station antenna, a simple pole antenna like the Comet GP-1. I live in an area where lightning is rare, but not unheard of. Should I drive ground rods into the ground for antenna/RF grounding? The…
Johnny
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What causes ground losses in a HF antenna system?

This applies to mobile and fixed installations. What are ground losses, and how can they be minimized? It seems to involve proximity to the ground, but what is the mechanism that causes loss? Does antenna installation height influence ground loss in…
Bill - K5WL
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What are some ways to ground a transmitter+antenna in an enclosed attic?

If I want to minimize "RF in the shack" and lightning hazard, what some good ways to ground a transmitter and indoor antenna in a top floor room or attic with no exterior access? (say a multi-story wood-framed building with large non-opening glass…
hotpaw2
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What is the proper way to ground your station's antenna?

I don't understand how you would go about giving an RF ground to your antenna. Would it not become an additional radial and affect the signal? What is the proper way to ground your station's antenna?
David Anastasio
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Why is an RF ground not as critical as the other, and can they be used backwards?

I will give the magmount antenna as an example: The vertical element to the antenna is very critical, cut to a certain wavelength, often added with some loading coils, or a little spiral to make everything perfect for the specific frequency. The…
Skyler 440
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Testing a possible grounding point?

Some multi-story buildings in my region require earthquake isolation on some of the piping. Thus my question. Is there a way to determine whether a nearby metal water pipe is actually Earth grounded, versus floating? Does this make a difference…
hotpaw2
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Using Earth as an RF ground

I have built a simple ground plane antenna for 70cm with a connector, 4 radials, and one vertical element. The RF ground is connected to the radials, and the RF is connected to the vertical. It got me thinking, can the actual earth be used, because…
Skyler 440
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Coax fed dipole: shield goes to one side, yet is grounded via chassis line to Earth

Suppose I have a coax-fed half-wave dipole antenna. The coax shield goes to one side of the antenna, the center conductor to the other side. The transceiver's chassis is connected (via the coax connector) to both one side of the dipole and to Earth…
Jack
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DIY lightning arrestor - gap size?

I have an antenna that's well above the treeline, and I've heard I can add some small amount of protection by placing two bolt heads a short distance from each other, one connected to the antenna, the other connected to the ground rod. What distance…
Adam Davis
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