[Antennas] Fw: To Ground or Not To Ground - That is theQuestion

[VK6UHF]

When i was in northern Tasmania a few years ago, i went down to the Tamar
river to contact a friend on the mainland.
I had the idea to try connecting the rig ground pad on the chassis to a
length of wire and a metal plate and threw it into the river about 3 meters
from the edge.
The difference was quite noticeable. I tried the same thing with  a length
of rod in the ground in another location (Dry ground)but with negligible
results. When later trying it with very damp ground (after heavy rains) the
results were better but not as good as the river experiment. All tests were
done with the rig bonded to the firewall and all other joints electrically
bonded to each other which all radio users should do as part of the radio
installation.
If you haven't bonded all surfaces together, you are liable to get noise
through the system.
I was able to get my car to a stage where i could turn it on and you could
not tell that i had done so. even at 80Kph. It was terrific.
Large choke on the output of the alternator and a lead from the choke to
ground on the alternator body, carbon leads on all plugs and coil and i had
no points as it was changed to use transistor switching from a led. some
people may know what i am talking about and be able to elaborate and of
course, heavy leads from the radio through toroid cors and ferrite rods for
both leads to the battery. I also used ferrite beads or toroids on all other
electrical equipment in the car including the dashboard instruments or
wipers and alike as well as toroids where able to fit them. In some cases i
cut wired and used terminal blocks so i could put wires through toroid
cores.
Some would say overkill but then i had the results to prove it was a job
worth the effort. In places i used proper electrical chokes with wire taps
to ground but i didn't design them others did and so should you if you need
them. I also has a dual battery system so i would never run the start
battery flat. I know so many other people who have done that for the sake of
an extra battery and a few dollars.
I used a multi taped whip on the front of the car mounted on a bull bar
using RG213 between the base and the rig. Good grounding is an absolute
must. I hope that this is of help to you and to others. Done hesitate to ask
me questions on this if i can be of assistance.
When spending long periods in remote locations, i had a generator and plenty
of filtering located about 3 meters away and never had a bit of noise. Took
a little bit of adjustment but one factor was that i found extremely
important was to ground the generator...
and add filters at both ends of the cable run and i was able to use a linear
from the mobile to give me 400w on 80 - 10m and 100 at other times.
Sorry if i have deviated a bit but i think it was worth it.
Regards 73 & 88's,
De John VK6UHF
E-mail: vk6uhf at arach.net.au