[TowerTalk] RF Ground is a Myth

[Hans Hammarquist via TowerTalk]

I need to answer this: No, you don't need any form of ground and can still have a good lightning protection 1) if you and all (and I mean "ALL", including power source) your equipment is inside a shielded container (of some sort) and 2) your antenna is of a balanced type with no need for an RF ground. (A satellite is a good example even if lightning strikes are uncommon there.)


Real life is different. You need safety ground so you don't get electrocuted. You ground(-s) for lightning protection so a lightning strike only make limited damages. You need an "RF ground" so you have a return path for your antenna, if now your antenna require that.


I think the Lightning and safety ground is covered well in earlier mails. The RF 'ground" is different. I side with the crowd that says that RF ground doesn't exist. A return path for the RF current from an antenna that needs "ground" can be made although each return path vary depending on what we want to do.


Yes, I would like to have a good, general purpose RF ground. Life would be much easier that way. All antennae have a  return path for the RF current. Most have a intentional return path; the dipole has the other leg, the GP has its radials etc. Some have an unintentional return path. That's when you can get your RF bites.


I dare to make the conclusion: Ground your shack and your equipment for safety through ground rods, Ufer ground etc. Make sure you have a return path for your RF current. This way you will minimize surprices operating your radio.


Hans - N2JFS



-----Original Message-----
From: john <john at kk9a.com>
To: towertalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Fri, Jan 23, 2015 9:49 am
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] RF Ground is a Myth


What works better with a RF ground?  I have not used one in over a decade.

John KK9A


To:	Hans Hammarquist <hanslg at aol.com>
Subject:	Re: [TowerTalk] RF Ground is a Myth
From:	Brian Carling <bcarling at cfl.rr.com>
Date:	Thu, 22 Jan 2015 17:51:51 -0500

Somebody could conclude from this that you should not bother grounding your
equipment in the shack if you using a dipole or another antenna that does not
work against ground.

However I can think of several different reasons why it's a good idea to use
the typical grounding scheme that has been recommended for amateur radio use
for many decades now. You ground each piece of equipment in the shack as
recommended. For me it just makes things work a lot better. So it is doing
something more than just lightning protection.

Best regards - Brian Carling
Mr. Empirical


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