[Elecraft] may have it wrong

[mc]

Please correct if this is wrong, I am trying to use my KX1 but after reading the group emails, I may be doing this all wrong. 

For frequency 7118,  I took a length of bare copper wire 33 feet long, divided (that is cut it ) it in half, took one half to the center of the BNC connector on the side of the radio and the other half directly to the grounding rod attached to the house.   but from reading the emails on the group list it now appears I need to have a insulated coax and I should not be connected directly to the radio with the two bare copper wires.....

Mike