This is the first place I've ever run an RF ground and have never noticed 
any difference or need for one. Even here, the only reason I run one is 
because I'm in a mobile home and the chassis is metal and grounded so it's 
very easy to connect to that, kind of like connecting a mobile radio to the 
car chassis. Most of my life I've been on the second floor of places and 
found the RF ground was more problem than benefit. I would never normally 
tie RF ground and electrical ground in to the same place, asking for 
problems if you ask me since they are 2 different things but where I am now, 
it was a case of why not try it more than anything else and since it's not 
hurting anything so far I go with it. I may regret it someday if the power 
system takes a hit but we have a group of meters on poles with heavy 
grounds, then under ground wiring from the pole to the house. If it's going 
to travel along that under ground wiring to get to the house, I'm in trouble 
no matter what I do. Now where my repeater is, that antenna was the only one 
grounded right on that tower, all the rest of them were hacked if grounded 
at all. 2 years ago that tower took a shot, took out all the public service 
radios and phone system in that town for the fire and ambulance anyway, 
probably police they're on the same tower but different building. My 
repeater, made out just fine, it's the only thing that did with any remote 
connection to that tower.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eric Oyen" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2014 10:37 AM
Subject: Re: Question about Ground Rods


> there are also other ways to keep down RF in the shack. I used a set of =
> 8 clip on RF chokes at the antenna feed point. my original reason for =
> this was to reduce (or eliminate) common mode noise. I accidentally =
> found out that it was also a good method of reducing unbalanced RF =
> currents on the shield of the coax.
>
> Now, for the house ground: I use 3 long ground spikes. One at the water =
> main coming in from the street and one for the mains power breaker box. =
> the Third one is my RF ground located less than 10 feet from my actual =
> station equipment. So far, this has proven to be beneficial as far as =
> electrical safety goes. I am also thinking on getting some 00 sized =
> copper strap and running a connection between the rods (this will =
> consolidate all the grounds and bring everything to the same potential).
>
> I know that I will have to start outfitting some of the power =
> connections in the house with RF choke devices. I have a lot of incident =
> RF noise from 2 local broadcast transmitters.
>
> the lesson here is this: defense in depth is always your friend.
>
> -eric