[Elecraft] OT- Coax for ground wire?

[Jim Brown]

On 10/21/2011 12:25 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
> For RF, you want the lowest possible inductance in the ground lead since
> inductance has reactance and reactance is what you do*not*  want.

Yes, BUT -- the principal function of the EARTH connection is lightning 
safety.  With any antenna that loads like a long wire and ends in the 
shack,  the "ground" wire is part of the antenna unless it has been 
decoupled from the "ground" wire by a lot of radials that end in the 
shack.  Further, the other end of that wire goes to lossy earth, and the 
equivalent resistance of the earth connection reduces the power that 
gets radiated -- UNLESS there are radials.

Bottom line -- low inductance is important for lightning safety, but 
it's primary effect on behavior of a long wire antenna (including 
inverted L, Tee vertical) is to lengthen the antenna a bit and add 
loss.  And yes, the braid of coax makes a nice ground conductor.

73, Jim K9YC