[600MRG] Ground Rods - Connection To -

[Glen Zook]

For r.f. grounding, a "chemical" ground rod can be fabricated by the average amateur radio operator inexpensively.  Details on this can be found at:
http://nebula.wsimg.com/73cbbdec1babe146d8ea96a4b2522bd2?AccessKeyId=5DDC3F25F0398F58962E&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

and a diagram at:
http://nebula.wsimg.com/707069c7b15a08663bf978002bf71a01?AccessKeyId=5DDC3F25F0398F58962E&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

Commercially produced chemical ground rods are certainly available.  But, those rods are fairly expensive.  
Of course, r.f. ground rods definitely need to be connected to the AC ground rod, lightning protection ground rods, etc. Glen, K9STH

Website: http://k9sth.net
      From: "Brian, WA1ZMS" <wa1zms at att.net>
 To: Merv Schweigert <k9fd at flex.com> 
Cc: "600mrg at w7ekb.com" <600mrg at w7ekb.com> 
 Sent: Sunday, February 1, 2015 2:18 PM
 Subject: Re: [600MRG] Ground Rods - Connection To -
   
Merv-
Very good points, I stand corrected.  My thinking is that for those in small lots (say like mine; 0.66ac) getting a good LF ground for RF is not too far away from a good lightning ground only in that there's not much room for an effective RF radial system anyway. Given that trees and driveways and the house are "in the way" trade offs are bound to be made.
A tough twist for me is that my utilities are all burried.  The copper sheath of the phone cable which is insulated anyway makes for a great pick-up conductor and it took me weeks of work to get my DSL modem to function when TXing on 600m.  Ferrite was the solution. But I'm sure Verizon would have to wonder "why" if they ever had to inspect my line after the de-mark point! :- )