[Elecraft] KX1 Question

[Paul Clay]

I finished my KX1 and it seems to be operating 
just fine, but I've notice something I've not 
noticed on my K2, or on my ham receivers for that 
matter.  If I insert a long random length wire 
into the KX1 I don't hear receive too many 
signals; advance or retarding the RF gain has 
little audible effect in the headphones.  But, 
when I also attach a wire to the outside of the 
BNC connector and then to a ground, the receiver 
comes alive with signals.  

At first, I thought this had something to do with 
running the unit off batteries vice my Astron 
power supply - till I realized (by turning off 
the Astron but leaving the KX1 plugged into the 
power supply, which is grounded; then by 
disconnecting the PS but connecting a ground wire 
to the outside of the BNC connector), that its 
just having the unit attached to some kind of 
ground.  So, does this sound normal or have I 
perhaps miswired something?  (Must be a 
noncritical mistake if I did, cause every 
function on the KX1 seems to work FB.)

Now to build the 30m module and the ATU ...

Thanks!
Paul, N6LQ