Tom I didn't have a ground initially but I hammered an 8-foot ground rod 
into the ground outside my ham shack window and I then used a heavy gauge 
ground strap and heavy gauge wire from the rig through the window to the 
ground rod outside.  If you don't have one, you can have a hot mic and your 
keyer can behave strangely both of which stopped when I added the station 
ground.  On my tower, it's grounded in 3 places and I have lightning 
arresters to be consistent with good engineering practice.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "tom behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 10:32 PM
Subject: Re: need good ideas for RF ground


> Pat:
>
> Where and how would you connect the ground, undder those conditions?
>
> 73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "pat gormley" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 11:06 AM
> Subject: Re: need good ideas for RF ground
>
>
> You do need a good ground especially if an amp of any size is involved.  I
> have shale under my qth here in Frostburg and you can either use old 
> pieces
> of rg213u or a grounding strap available from the home depot or other
> electrical supply places.
> ----- 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
>>
>