On 7/30/2011 6:43 PM, Radio Station wrote: > I'm looking at getting the KPA500, but need to find a way to ground my K3 as > well as the KPA500. I'm about 12 floors up in a high-rise and people have > suggested to me that I should look into an artificial ground. Are there > other suggestions, and artificial ground recommendations as well?
An earth connection is required ONLY for lightning safety, and in a high rise, the best and safest connection is to the steel frame of the building, AND to the green wire in the AC outlet. Your ham gear should be bonded together, and to these two points. A connection to the earth does NOT make your antenna work better, nor does it reduce noise, nor does it reduce RFI. Proper BONDING (as described above) CAN help minimize both noise and RFI. A long wire antenna needs some sort of counterpoise to serve as the return for antenna current, and the return for the fields produced by the antenna. In most installations, that function is best filled by radials. In yours, the bond to the building steel is likely to be VERY effective. Don't even consider wasting your money on so-called "artificial grounds" and stuff like that. 73, Jim K9YC ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
