[TenTec] Argonaut VI Lost RX/TX on 160/80 Meters-- Poly Phaser resources

[Reed]

Well I guess I will stir up a hornets nest here on station grounding.  I 
don't!  I use to years ago, but I found out lightening will follow 
itself right to that grounded equipment instead of staying outside where 
it belongs.  Bob Heil had this very discussion on Ham Nation either 
first of this year or sometime last year. He never grounds his station 
equipment, but ALWAYS ALWAYS  ground your antennas & use a grounded AC 
outlet for the power supplies. Most of our rigs in today's world is 
DC.    Grounded all that equipment together then running that to a 
separate ground rod outside has caused me more problems at my other QTH 
than I care to think about.  Here is a web site you can read that Bob 
told us about station grounding.  Good article!

http://www.eham.net/articles/21383

Now if you want to that is fine, but I haven't had any issues in the 
past 24 years with lightening coming in my shack.  Now I have had to 
replace diodes in my electronic antenna switch, came in on Hy-Gain 
vertical which was grounded with a 8 foot ground rod & radials. I had to 
repair control box inside also, but none of that is grounded to my 
station equipment which I'm sure would have done some damage if all that 
was grounded together.  Coax was not connected to rig. After lightening 
hitting, not a huge hit, vertical  3 times I disconnected coax at switch 
3 years ago. No more hits!  I live on a very high hill also!  Great for 
ham radio, but not so when storms pop up.

I have a Anderson Power Pole distribution box that I disconnect DC in 
cable from & antenna is disconnected when rig is not in use. That is 
best lighten protection that I know of.  Here in middle TN we are 
getting hammered with storms everyday for almost a week. Especially in 
my area.  No ham radio except indoor antenna until these pop up storms 
are finally gone.

73,
Reed  W4JZ