[TenTec] Eagle problem?

Fri May 16 11:45:13 EDT 2014

Agreed with your points.  However the statement I originally addressed is; 
"the 3rd pin ground is not good lightning protection" or something to that 
fact.  The 3rd pin system was never intended to be such.

I'll revert to my manual from Motorola, all 513 pages of it, on the topic of 
ground system construction and integration.  We must all agree that 
lightning protection and mitigation and grounding must be constructed as a 
system.  It is not a thing and it is far from being as simple as a driven 
ground rod or rods with a conductor connected to ones radio.

In conclusion the topic is much too broad to be adequately discussed in a 
venue such as a product related reflector.

73
Bob, K4TAX

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cecil" <chacuff at cableone.net>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2014 9:21 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Eagle problem?

>I can agree with "All lightning protection must BEGIN outside the 
>structure."
>
> But the fact is we, by the very nature of building a radio station, have 
> invited lightning inside by virtue of multiple copper paths.  Our various 
> feedlines, rotor control cables, remote antenna switch cables etc..
>
> We have to build a last line of defense inside the shack to deal with, as 
> effectively as possible, whatever remaining strike potential makes it 
> through our outside defenses.
>
> Tying those two protection systems together is not inviting the energy 
> in...it's extending the protection all the way to the equipment we are 
> working so hard to protect.
>
> Of course there are two camps..I have a friend that believes don't ground 
> anything...including the tower....that encourages...invites a lightning 
> strike to occur.
>
> Everybody knows lightning seeks the best path to ground...
>
> I guess the best course is to do what makes one sleep best at night....
>
> Cecil
> K5DL
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>> On May 15, 2014, at 3:49 PM, Robert <rmcgraw at blomand.net> wrote:
>>
>> All lightning protection must exist outside of the structure.
>>
>> Do nothing to invite lightning inside unless you desire a lot of damage.
>>
>> 73
>> Bob K4TAX
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On May 15, 2014, at 3:39 PM, Brian Carling <bcarling at cfl.rr.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> AC 3rd pin is not going to be a very effective ground for protection 
>>> from lightning damage.
>>>
>>> Best regards - Bry Carling AF4K
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> On May 15, 2014, at 4:17 PM, Robert <rmcgraw at blomand.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Braid is not the best choice for a low inductance RF path.  It is 
>>>> although necessary for flexible applications.
>>>>
>>>> Personally I bond all equipment to the station supply and do not use 
>>>> anything but the AC 3rd pin for safety reasons.
>>>>
>>>> 73
>>>> Bob, K4TAX
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>>>> On May 15, 2014, at 2:20 PM, Carter <k8vt at ameritech.net> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 5/14/2014 5:56 PM, Stuart Rohre wrote:
>>>>>> Some Yaecomwoods do suffer from RF entering the rig.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> MOST ANY rig will if you have a bad shield connection on coax jumper, 
>>>>>> or have rig too close to the antenna, (second floor shack), and there 
>>>>>> are many other rig and feedline issues to rule out in any RFI case.
>>>>> True, can be many causes, but I am in a basement shack. Also, a few 
>>>>> years ago, I used a Drake TR-7 on SSB with everything else the same 
>>>>> and it worked fine. However, I realize that the TR-7 was not as 
>>>>> "computerized" (dependent on microprocessors) as the Omni VI.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Rule of thumb:  Power all equipment from same circuit breaker of the 
>>>>>> house.  That ensures AC grounds will not be coming from widely 
>>>>>> different locations.  IF you have to use a long ground wire for 
>>>>>> lightning protection ground on the station (like from second floor 
>>>>>> shack), consider that it could act as an "antenna" for pick up of RF 
>>>>>> from the real antenna. You may need tuned radials, or a radial for 
>>>>>> each favorite band.
>>>>> Good tip and I believe I am on the same breaker for all the ham 
>>>>> equipment. Again, a basement shack and 5 or 6 feet of a single 3/4 
>>>>> inch wide braid from the ground  of each piece of equipment to the 
>>>>> ground rod right on the outside of the basement wall.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You could always examine the quality of the grounding of the mike 
>>>>>> cable shield.  Some older mike cords had just a multi-strand wire 
>>>>>> wrapped in one direction and not a hatch pattern wire shield. Some 
>>>>>> aluminum foil shields don't make a good low impedance connection by 
>>>>>> clamping. (Connections that can't be soldered are suspect).
>>>>>
>>>>> Should have mentioned this earlier, but back in the day before I used 
>>>>> any computer interface, I had the problem with both a TT 705(?) mic 
>>>>> and a Heil Pro headset. Probably unlikely that both were defective.
>>>>>
>>>>> 73,
>>>>> Carter   K8VT
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