I knew a ham years ago who drove a 1.5 inched diameter 10 foot pipe into the 
ground, filled it with water, yes he new it would drain eventually, and 
dumped a big back of rock salt down the pipe to create corrosion.  He then 
used a radiator clamp to squeeze a heavy ground wire to it and connect 
everything else up.  I always use half inch grade and at least an 8 foot 
ground rod.  With my tower, I used four 8 foot ground rods and connected 
them together with 8 gage pure copper wire and then to the tower.  Then I 
ran a ground wire up the tower all the way to the top, screwing the cable 
around each bolt that bolted the individual tower sections together.  I did 
this because occasionally I used floating half wave slopes on 80 meters and 
the ground of the coax went directly to a wire that was more than well 
grounded.  I also went to radio shack, bought 4 of their short 4 foot ground 
rods, and pounded them in around the base of the tower and connected the 
copper wire to all of them as well.  I've heard other hams run wire over to 
an outside water fosses and clamp their ground on to that as well.  The more 
ground, the better.

Phil.
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred Adams" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 6:44 PM
Subject: Re: need good ideas for RF ground


>I totally agree.  I never use a ground and I have an amplifier.  I also 
>have
> known a number of hams that lost equipment by lightening coming up through
> the ground.  If I used a ground, I would have some kind of quick 
> disconnect
> so it could be disconnected when not in use.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 12:37 PM
> Subject: Re: need good ideas for RF ground
>
>
>> If lightning gets to your RF ground, you already lost the radio, and very
>> likely you if you're anywhere near the equipment, in fact, it's more
>> likely
>> to come in on your rf ground if it's grounded outside. I can't tell you
>> how
>> many instances of that I've heard. If you can't get a ground outside, I'd
>> go
>> with out, unless you really think you'd need it, then you can always make
>> counterpoises for the band/s you have trouble on or use most 1/4 wave
>> length
>> of wires connected to the grounding lug on the radio, and run them around
>> the outer edges of the room. I've run a lot of special event and gokit
>> station setups though with no RF ground at all and never had a problem,
>> here
>> at home I have one of the mfj artificial grounds but with the amp, that
>> can't handle it so I don't run anything at all. the only time I have a
>> problem and I'm working on that is when I use the w2ihy EQ and the amp on
>> 40
>> meters, mostly on my 40 meter dipole which doesn't make sense, but that's
>> the way it goes.
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "tom behler" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 11:59 AM
>> Subject: need good ideas for RF ground
>>
>>
>>> Hi, folks.
>>>
>>> I would like any suggestions anyone might have for a reasonably good RF
>>> ground in my ham room at the new Colorado home QTH.  The room is on the
>>> main
>>> floor of the ranch house, but I don't know of a nearby water pipe or
>>> something like that to hook onto.  We have forced hot air heat, bbut I
>>> don't
>>> know if the nearest heating vent has something I could latch onto 
>>> either.
>>> When the guys from the local club put up my DXCC and my Diamond X200A, 
>>> we
>>> discussed the grounding issue, and they really downplayed the need for 
>>> an
>>> earth or RF ground out here.  They said the soil is just not conducive 
>>> to
>>> it, and since it's always so dry, it's really hard to find true ground.
>>> So,
>>> at this point, I am groundless.
>>>
>>> I have two reasons for getting more serious about an RF ground in
>>> addition
>>> to protecting against possible lightning strikes:
>>>
>>> 1.  I have discovered that I might have some RF getting back into my TW1
>>> talking watt meter, since when I take SWR and power readings at 100 
>>> watts
>>> with my TS480, the meter sometimes acts a bit flaky when I adjust the
>>> volume
>>> control.  Doesn't do it normally, just when 100 watts are applied.
>>>
>>>
>>> and
>>>
>>> 2.  I have a lot of details to work out yet, but I'm starting to think
>>> about
>>> purchasing a small amp for my HF set-up--possibly something like a Heath
>>> Kit
>>> SB200.  I would think that a good RF ground would be essential when 
>>> using
>>> an
>>> amp like that.
>>> Would appreciate any suggestions you guys have, and thanks as always for
>>> your help.
>>>
>>> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ, Louisville, CO
>