[PaQSO] Ground that station!

Wed Jul 27 21:15:19 EDT 2005

By Bill Goodman, K3ANS

On September 1, 2005, Thursday, 7:30 PM the Delaware Lehigh Amateur Radio
Club will
have its monthly meeting.  After the business session, I will present a
program on the benefits and methods of grounding a high frequency (H.F.) ham
station.  You may know that I built a fairly large station which has
excelled in contesting and DXing, especially with weak signals on 160 and 80
meters CW (Morse Code).  It has three standing towers, many trees for
antenna supports, and many antennas for each H.F. band.  I believe that my
extensive grounding system has aided in our ability to receive and copy very
weak stations, which others could not hear.  I have worked every DXCC entity
or country,  I have DXCC honor roll on both phone and CW.  I have DXCC on
all 9 H.F. bands, 160, 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 meters.  I have
Worked All States on all major H.F. bands, 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10.  I
did not bother on the other bands, since I was more interested in DX.
Operating W3FRC from K3ANS we broke the record for high score multi multi.
Operating multi multi and single we and I have scored high in many DX and
domestic contests. Thus I believe the grounding system has been instrumental
in this success.  Many DLARC members helped build and operate the station,
especially WF3H, K3YD, NU3L, N3IYX, K3CC, N3MX, and W3ZL.  They can attest
to the effectiveness.  Unfortunately, it has been fairly quiet the last few
years because I have increased business and family responsibilities, which
leave little time for ham radio at home.  I hope that will change in future
years.  The station is idle, but the system is still there and will rise
again.

The grounding system has prevented damage by lightning strikes to my home,
trees, radios, computer equipment, and antennas.  I watch storm clouds with
lightning quiet down as they pass over my towers.  The high towers with
elaborate grounding systems probably discharge the high voltage potential
build up, thereby reducing the chances of sudden lightning strikes   I am a
firm believer in the advice, techniques, and equipment published and sold by
Polyphaser Corp.  I will pass around their classic text book and recommend
that you buy and read it.  It has become a prime reference.  I also rely on
the ARRL Handbook, the ARRL Antenna Handbook, and advice from many
experienced hams who have built similar and bigger stations.  I am appalled
at some hams who advocate using no grounds.  That is as flushing a toilet
without a sewer line!  You must get rid of the nasty byproducts of the
electronics in your radios and computers, and the noise in the atmosphere
which comes in your antennas.  The floating R.F. can interfere with your
reception.   I refuse to operate my equipment at a station that is not
grounded.  Look at a radio schematic.  It shows many capacitors carrying A/C
and R/F voltage to ground, which must be removed from the radio.

I will show the layout and system I used including around 50 ground rods and
about two miles of ground wire.  It includes a Faraday Shield around the
station.  I have invited a few other serious H.F. station builders and
operators to join us at the meeting, hoping they will share their
experiences and ideas.  I also invited a few non-hams who know a lot about
safety engineering and telecommunications.  See you at the 911 headquarters,
Gracedale, PA 248,  near Nazareth, PA.  Talk in on 146.70 mcs., W3OK/R, PL
151.4. Bring your friends.

William N. Goodman, CPA
Certified Public Accountant
Licensed by the PA Department of State

Goodman & Company
Certified Public Accountants

Branch Manager and Mortgage Loan Officer of
American Independent Mortgage, Inc.
First Mortgage Loan Broker, Licensed by
PA Department of Banking

Insurance Agent, Licensed by
PA Department of Insurance

Agent and representative of
Bushtrack Safaris of
Republic of South Africa

Amateur Radio Operator (Ham)
K3ANS - Extra Class, Licensed by
Federal Communications Commission

Office:
2560 Nazareth Road
Easton, PA 18045-2793

Home:
765 Young;s Hill Road
Easton, PA 18040-6726

Telephones:
Office 610-253-2745
Fax 610-253-9773
Home 610-258-5063

E-mail: wgoodman at goodmancpa.biz