[Elecraft] Mac Grounding

[Phil Hystad]

I understand the technical reasons that people suggest for grounding but I do not see the need.  I have no problems.  If there are problems, they are invisible to me.  By the way, my Signalink is connected to my Mac only when I am using it.  The reason is that I usually use the Signalink from my laptop and not my iMac and most of the time I am not using the Signalink.  I think I last did PSK31 about two weeks ago and that was the first time in several months.

At least 90 percent of all my contacts are CW.  I never use a computer in tandem with my radio work.  I think that is a real hassle and it does not interest me.  I do enter log information in my own home grown logging application but I do not interface the computers to the radio.  The only reason I do that is when I need to do a K3 or P3 firmware upgrade and when I do PSK31 (both of these are relatively rare events).

By the way, I do love ham radio but I am in front of my laptop (usually sitting on the couch here in my room) more then I am in front of my radios.  Thus, my computers are situated for all my programming activities, not for radio work.

phil


On Apr 11, 2011, at 6:45 PM, Robert Harmon wrote:

> I have two Mac laptop computers in the shack.  An aluminum encased MacBook Pro and a plastic cased MacBook.
> Is their a way to ground these without drilling/clamping etc ?  I understand the need but I'm not very excited 
> about modifying my Macs to provide grounding.  
> 
> Bob
> K6UJ
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Apr 11, 2011, at 6:37 PM, Rick Prather wrote:
> 
>> I have the aluminum 24" and I use a screw clamp on the aluminum leg on the back.  
>> 
>> Definitely eliminated the potential difference I used to see from the Mac to the radio.
>> 
>> As much as I love Mac's there is nothing inherently magic about them that disallows the need for proper grounding.
>> 
>> Also, running a ground strap is not in any way going to alter the warranty.
>> 
>> In Phil's case, even using the SignalLink (for whatever reason) does not preclude the possibility of needing the units bonded together.  
>> 
>> I wondered how long it would take K9YC to weigh in on this and I'm sure he can do a much better job of explaining the requirement.  Taking a look at his tutorial  is an excellent idea.
>> 
>> Rick
>> K6LE
>> 
>> On 4/11/2011, at 5:53 , Ray Sills wrote:
>> 
>>> Hi Rick:
>>> 
>>> Where to you connect that ground strap?  My iMac (17" Intel) is  
>>> totally encased in plastic!
>>> 
>>> 73 de Ray
>>> K2ULR
>>> 
>> 
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