[TowerTalk] Did we learn old wives' tales?

[Wes Cosand]

After reading quite complementary comments in ON4UN's latest edition of 
"Low Band DXing", I decided to investigate MFJ's model 1026 "Noise 
Canceling Signal Enhancer", a phase shifting circuit for receiving 
antennas.  I downloaded the manual from the MFJ web site and it contains a 
couple provocative statements.

It says to ground the box with solid copper wire.  "Woven or braided wire 
has higher RF resistance than solid connectors".  Is this true?  I thought 
the skin effect made braid a better conductor of RF at HF frequencies.  Am 
I misinformed?

At another point the author writes:

"Adequate lightening protection can be obtained by burying coaxial 
feedlines directly in the ground for 20 feet (or more) before the feedline 
enters the building.  In addition, the feedline's shield should be grounded 
to the station ground at the point where the feedline enters the 
building.  ... In-line coaxial lightning arrestors offer minimal 
improvement in lightning protection The best method of protecting station 
equipment is to disconnect the feedline outside the building during 
threatening weather or when the station is not in use"

So how does burying the feedline work?  Wouldn't that mean the transient 
would blow a hole through both the dielectric and the outside 
covering?  And advice to disconnect your station sounds like 
impractical.  I have a job, a wife, and lots of interests in life.  I can't 
sit around looking for threatening weather?  And nobody disconnects the 
telephone systems during a storm.

But this box sounds like it would have lots of uses on the low bands.  I 
think I am going to get one.

Wes, WZ7I

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