[GreenKeys] antenna grounding, lightning protection, and wire antennas

[gil smith]

Hi folks:

As my building renovation progresses, I now have a few roof mounts for rx
antennas, and I have some more newbie questions:

1) antenna mast grounding -- I have a tv antenna mast, and a discone mast
-- as I understand it, the masts get grounded to building ground at the
electrical panel, with something like #6 copper ground wire.  The antennas
are insulated from the mast, I presume.  Should I simply bolt the ground
wire to the mast near the bottom?  A dab of silicone on it to keep it
clean?  Is there a dissimilar-metal-corrosion concern between copper and
steel or plated bolts?

2) lightning/static protection:  I would think that the antennas should
connect through some sort of gizmo for diverting larger transients to
ground.  Any recommendations (50-ohm and 75-ohm)?

3) wire antennas:  I have two locations (at right angles to each other) for
suspending wire antennas for shortwave stuff.  How would I connect a 50-ohm
coax to: a) an end-fed wire, b) a center-fed dipole?  Some sort of balun
needed?  Any recommendations on insulators?

thanks,

gil


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