Topband: RF Ground or Wire to RF Ground?

[Jim Brown]

On Sun, 31 Dec 2006 07:04:05 -0800 (PST), oliver steiner wrote:

>I would like to better understand how ground is
>distinguished from wire to ground.  

A connection to the earth is immaterial to the operation of radio 
equipment. It IS important for ANY power system, but ONLY as a 
disharge path for lightning and other big voltage spikes that may 
come in on the power line. People who tell you to ground radio 
equipment for any other reason don't know what they are talking 
about. Yes, it's in all the equipment manuals. And its wrong. 

Go to your local airport and observe the aircraft taking off from 
the runway. There's a LOT of radio equipment and other sophisticated 
electronics on it, and it all works fine. Call me collect when you 
see one trailing a ground wire. 

73,

Jim Brown K9YC