[TowerTalk] Tower as ground

[Jim Brown]

On Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:38:15 -0500, Jim WB5OXQ inb Waco, TX wrote:

>If a tower is installed several feet deep in the ground probably in 
>concrete is the tower itself consaidered a good ground for an antenna 
>that requires one or should a ground wire be connected to the antenna
>and run down a tower leg to a ground rod driven into soil?

Antennas do NOT need an EARTH connection to work, or to work better. 
The EARTH connection is required for LIGHTNING PROTECTION ONLY!  A 
tower base buried in concrete has a very good earth connection. Most 
experts advise that additional ground rods be placed around the tower 
base and bonded to the tower base. Some antennas (like a quarter wave 
vertical) need RADIALS to minimize the losses in the earth due to 
return antenna currents and fields. 

73,

Jim Brown K9YC