Topband: Top Loading of Shunt-fed Tower

[Joe Subich, K4IK]

Tom, 

> He said be sure to ground the control cable and choke 
> everything off, as a fried control unit is the problem 
> he would be most concerned about.

SteppIR uses a shielded control cable.  If your tower is 
grounded at the base (shunt fed) and you bring the cable 
completely to the bottom of the tower, the only real 
concern would be to tie the shield of the control cable 
to the tower ground.  

Good practice world also call for the shield to be tied 
to the common entry point ground (where all coax shields 
are grounded before entering the building).  With two 
"ground" points there should be no problem.  However, 
if you want to take a belt and suspenders approach. 
wind the control cable on some 2" to 3" PVC pipe making 
a solenoid 18" or so long and put it just after the 
tower ground and before the control cable goes into 
the conduit to the house ... that's what I'll be doing 
with mine. 

73, 

   ... Joe, K4IK