[TowerTalk] Sheet copper ground

[Jim Brown]

On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:52:24 -0700, Bill Turner wrote:

>That would only be effective for lightning protection, not for AC
>mains or RF grounding. 

The primary function of ANY connection to earth, including AC Mains,  
IS the discharge of lightning (and other power line spikes). A 
connection to EARTH is irrelvant to the operation of radio systems. 

What SOME antennas need is some sort of return for antenna current 
(what we sometimes call a ground plane or radial system or 
counterpoise.  Dipoles, beams, etc. need an earth connection ONLY 
for lightning protection. 

A connection to EARTH will rarely reduce noise. Often it will 
increase it. 

Jim Brown K9YC