I am installing a ham radio and want to properly ground it. Ham Radio Q & A is back with another episode. I have a Commercial Radio License, Extra Amateur License and 30+ years working with 2-way Radio, Paging, Trunking, HF and Microwave Radio Systems and Mobiles at a Fortune 50 Company. Chapter 9 tables –additional data and information on a variety of topics. Although proper power grounding is fairly straightforward for AC and DC power, grounding for the radio signals in a ham station is a different problem altogether. It consists of a short length of copper pipe. Station ground “knows nothing” about the r.f. Grounding things in your attic will not reduce RFI noise. Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 Next > KA6IBM Ham Member QRZ Page. Your radio gear in general terms is considered a piece of equipment. All it takes is water and time. Safety ground implementation, meeting regulatory codes and … You’ll learn effective grounding and bonding techniques for stations in a house, condo, or apartment, for portable and temporary situations, and for towers and outdoor antennas. The minimum size wire you should use to connect the antenna to the house service ground is 10 AWG (American Wire Gauge ), which is 1/10th of an inch in diameter. The FT-450D only requires 12 volts from a power supply or battery to operate, no separate ground is required for the radio to work. '03, I wrote a half page article called, "Apartment Ham Station" featuring my friend, Carl. At the very left end, you can just see where it’s clamped to a length of #2 wire that goes out to the ground rod, only a few feet away. Always use a single point ground between the interior and exterior of your HAM shack! First and foremost, grounding is for the safety of your family, home, and ham equipment. Post # 651. If you look at the lower right corner, you can see the wide ground straps that are being installed to form a closed screen or grid below the radio room's floor. In the present case, that is to say a station to be operated in an apartment building, it is required to have an antenna that is “invisible”. Presented is a method learned from other hams on how to install a ground rod with minimal or no hammering. Anyways, in Mar. This provided a chance to show how to properly ground a tower. being generated. A good ground system is an essential part of a good ham station for various reasons. A HAM shack ground loop gives lightening another path to your equipment. This Ask Dave episode focuses on grounding your amateur radio station, a topic of interest to many hams! —810.11-810.18 –receiving antennas. Providing good grounding — for both AC and DC power as well as for the radio signals — is very important for a trouble-free ham radio shack. Lastly, practical grounding methods are presented that are based on the foregoing considerations. Sources of Noise on “Ground” • Capacitance from AC “hot” to ground –Leakage capacitance in transformers –AC line filters • Magnetic induction –Leakage fields from power transformers –Wiring errors in buildings and homes •Double bonded neutrals –Leakage fields from motors and controllers –Variable speed drives base stations anymore). Station ground “knows nothing” about the r.f. 3. The entire ceiling, which is the floor of the radio room, has braiding that forms a large counterpoise. Setting up a “shack” is an essential part of the ham radio experience. Grounding an antenna properly makes the antenna safe to use and also enables the best to be made of the performance of the antenna. If an external device is connected to the mic jack, and that external device grounds the mic shield back to the station ground or power mains safety ground, it will introduce hum into the audio. Knowing how to ground an antenna properly can make significant improvements to its performance, whereas a poor ground or earth connection can mean that its performance is greatly impaired. —810.7 –bonding and grounding. Where to get a copy of NFPA-70. As an ultra beginner without a lot of investment in the hobby, it was perfectly acceptable to have to climb onto the roof t… is not referenced to station ground. Been a apt dweller most of my adult life. 1. The main category is Hidden and stealth antennas that is about Hidden antennas, antennas for low space. The device is intended for long grounding wires. I try to answer all questions, and the ones with a wide […] Resources listed under Grounding category belongs to Technical Reference main collection, and get reviewed and rated by amateur radio … Discussion in 'Ham Radio Discussions' started by KA6IBM, Nov 23, 2016.