[TowerTalk] Grounding of Amateur Radio installations

[Jim Lux]

At 07:23 AM 12/7/2006, Alan NV8A wrote:
>A brief summary of the current NEC provisions for grounding of radio and
>TV receiving and transmitting equipment is available here:
>
>http://www.mikeholt.com/newsletters.php?action=display&letterID=284
>
>73
>
>Alan NV8A


Something to bear in mind is that, in general, most jurisdictions 
don't bother enforcing the NEC for amateur radio antennas (so don't 
go out and buy all that AWG 10 Copperweld for your rhombic just 
yet).  Not that they exempt amateur installations, it's just that 
they don't bother enforcing, unless someone complains. When a realtor 
in the neighborhood sicced the code enforcement people on me (long 
story), they wrote me up because the coax from my roof mounted GPS 
antenna was not being properly secured. Granted, it was an easy fix 
(probably deliberately selected by the inspector for that reason), 
but it goes to show that you can't be totally cavalier about the code.

That said, the NEC guidelines on grounding are worth following, even 
if the rules about the radiating elements are ignored.

Jim, W6RMK