Yes... I hate to think it but I too think the basement would easily be the
safe bet
I will pursue this coax ground wire idea a bit more.  If I understand
correctly, the length of my ground wire should not be a quarter wavelength
of any frequency that I want to operate on.  With that in mind, is it
reasonablly safe to assume that a length somewhat shorter or longer would
work ok if it isn't some sort of multiple of that wavelength?

Thank you VERY much,

Kent

-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Steve
Sent: Monday, August 12, 2013 3:06 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: rf ground, how long is too long?

If I had my druthers, I'd opt for the basement.  You might be okay with 18
feet depending on your operating frequency.  I wouldn't go much longer with
that though, because you start getting to the point where your ground might
be a quarter wavelength of your operating frequency, which then causes it to
radiate and creates RFI.

Steve, K8SP
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kent Plemmons" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 11, 2013 7:38 PM
Subject: rf ground, how long is too long?


> Hi everybody,
>
>
>
> How long is too long to run my rf ground to an earth ground?
>
>
>
> I would like to put my hf rig in a room on the main floor of our house 
> (not
> a second story) but it would require running my rf ground about 18' to an
> earth ground.  This room is heated in the winter and is comfortable.  The
> other option I have is to put it in the basement which is not completely
> underground and would take some amount of modification to make comfortable
> in cold weather but I would only need to run my rf ground about 6' to an
> earth ground.  I could relocate computer if necessary.  I don't want to 
> get
> all set up with antenna cabling etc. just to find out that I should have 
> put
> everything in the basement where there is a shorter ground.  Any of you 
> have
> similar problem?  Where would you locate?
>
>
>
> Kent Plemmons somewhere in the Smoky Mountains of NC
>
> Skype: kent.plemmons
>
> Kk4fff
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>