[Elecraft] KX3 Serious Errors in the Manual

[Don Wilhelm]

And we "chew" on it for the edification of all hams that may be listening.
There are myths and misinformation that I hear everyday on the ham 
bands, and to a lesser extent on reflector postings.
We can all learn from posts of the nature that Jim presented.  I have 
echoed several derivatives of his comments in the past, but perhaps it 
is time for a refresher (and some study) on what "grounds" accomplish 
and how to implement them correctly.  For Lightning protection, I refer 
you to the information by Ron Block that can be found at 
http://www.arrl.org/lightning-protection.
He does cover some AC ground protection in those articles as well. He 
talks of a perimeter wire around any building and tying it into the 
Utility entrance ground.  That is important for AC safety of your 
station and your home.

As I indicated, RF "Ground" is neither of those grounding systems. RF 
Ground is a point in the antenna system where the RF voltage is zero.  
That is entirely dependent on your antenna - for a balanced dipole, it 
exists at the center of the antenna feedpoint, and for a vertical, it 
should exist at the midpoint of the vertical radiator and whatever 
"counterpoise" is used.  That may or may not be associated (and usually 
is not) associated with any reference to "mother earth" - it is a 
concept that is unique to the RF voltage and current.

In other words, attempting to create an "RF Ground" with a connection to 
earth may be an exercise in futility and may actually create "RF in the 
shack" and depends on the length of the wire to earth.  For instance a 
"ground wire" 8 feet in length to a ground rod will be a high impedance 
to RF at 28 MHz, so instead of providing an "RF Ground", it will create 
just the opposite.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/25/2014 9:14 PM, Richard Solomon wrote:
> Wow, when you guys get your teeth into something, you really chew.
>