I haven't read all the comments on this thread so maybe this was 
mentioned.  I've talked with guys who used 15 and 20 foot pipes they drove 
into the ground, filled the pipe with water, and then dumped a bag of rock 
salt into it and roughed up the pipe at the first couple of inches before 
clamping a hose clamp on to the top.  The purpose, of course, for this style 
of grounding is to reach the water table, if possible.  The rock salt and 
water is to rust the thing up so it makes a solid ground.  Grounding above 
ground for antennas, of course, is a whole different story.  I saw Butch 
post his idea and that works as easy as anything.  I've just soldered the 
braid and center conductor together and used the whole chunk of RG8U as one 
big ground wire but mine have been only a few feet long.  I wouldn't get 
carried away.  I had 8 foot ground rods in a square around the base of my 
tower with 4 little 4 footers in between.  Even that was probably over kill.

Phil.
K0NX

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 11, 2013 8:11 PM
Subject: Re: rf ground, how long is too long?


> 18' would be resonant on 10 meters, no good. Keep it short or don't have
> one. I've run many places in the past with out one with no problem.
> ----- 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
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>