[TowerTalk] RF Ground is not a Myth

[Jim Brown]

On Thu,1/22/2015 10:28 AM, Mike Reublin NF4L wrote:
> I think the confusion exists because we insist on calling too many things "ground". To me, ground is earth. In electrical circuits (AC,DC,RF) there is return. I doubt the world is gonna adapt my view.

That is EXACTLY the problem, Mike. We try to solve hum, buzz, and RFI 
problems and make antennas work better by driving ground rods, when 
those ground rods don't help any of those things (except, of course, for 
RX antennas).

What DOES solve hum, buzz, and RFI problems is proper termination of 
cable shields, and BONDING all equipment together. What DOES make 
antennas work better is providing a return for antenna current that goes 
good places and not bad ones. That means providing a good counterpoise 
or radials for end-fed wires (including verticals) and using common mode 
chokes to keep antenna current off of feedlines.

BTW -- we exactly the same problem with the word "balun," which is used 
to describe nearly a dozen very different things, leading to more 
confusion and fuzzy thinking.

73, Jim K9YC