I think the point of diminishing returns, at least for 160, is 128 quarter 
wave radials.
I read a really good article on this from a Hawaiian ham club online...don't 
remember the URL unfortunately.
Anyway, they went into detail about some  experiments, as well as some 
experiences from setting up a low power AM broadcast station.
If a person has the property required to set up 128 equally spaced quarter 
wave radials on 160, then I say all the power to them.
I've heard of guys laying chicken wire down before land scaping their 
property to create a better ground.
If you had a tower in the middle of a couple achers and were going to land 
scape the whole thing, I suppose it might be wize to spend the extra money 
to lay a few thousand feet of chicken wire down.
Going a little beyond reasonable though I would think hi.
I think building yourself a man made lake of say 3 achers, and installing a 
big tower right in the middle would create a pretty decent ground.  Might be 
tricky getting to the tower  to install anything, but fun none the less.
73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pat Byrne" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2009 4:19 PM
Subject: Re: need good ideas for RF ground


> Hi Tom,
> I've been watching this thread and have an idea or two.  I guess I am
> old school and want a ground.  I am currently grounded to the rod
> outside of the house - used by the electric and phone companies.  No
> idea how long it is.  I have a ten footer that will be driven just
> where my various cables enter the house, being closer than the
> current rod and of known length.  And I'll connect the two existing
> rods together.  Also and perhaps not until spring I will run wire out
> along the fence that encloses our back yard perhaps using a lawn
> edging tool to open a slot to drop the wire in and then pressing the
> ground back down over the wire.  Soon you'd never know that the
> ground had been cut.  And maybe I'd continue that wire around the
> house, away from the back yard.  My thought is that the more rods and
> radials you can get in place, the better you'll be.  A long time ago
> when a lot of us local guys were very young and more ambitious than
> now, we worked 160 and several of us spent the summer adding rods and
> radials and noting that our ground wave signals kept improving.  Of
> course there is a point where the difference becomes academic and
> theoretical but a ground will make a difference in how you get out
> and how much or little RF hangs out in the shack.
> Good luck and find some young guy you can give ten bucks to to sink
> that damned rod!!!
> Pat, K9JAu At 10:59 AM 9/30/2009, you wrote:
>>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