Base antenna Problems

[222DBFL]

If you haven't done so, place a 5/8"x8ft ground rod all the way down in the ground and ground the tower mast pipe. You will also want to do this with all your radio equipment. And make sure the grounds tie together to make a single point for all the grounds. Most use a ground buss bar. But there are other ways.
But I would for sure ground that antenna. And also adding a good 1:1 isolating/matching balun at the antenna feed point and a Low Pass Filter at the radio end helps with RFI/TVI issues and also with common mode currents along your feed line.
It takes a lot of work to have a good antenna setup that works at its best or as close to optimal as possible. But you have to take the time to do it correctly. JMHO's. Don't cheap out in this area. Your antenna system that is. And all the related parts. Again JMHO's.
Enjoy your time on the radio!! And 73 abs God Bless.

 

[Bill Doyle]

Thanks for the info. I have the mast grounded. But I haven't figured out how to ground the radio. My radio is set up in my bedroom on the 2nd. floor. The antenna is right outside my bedroom window. Could I run a ground wire out the window down to the antenna ground ?? Our would it do any good if I grounded the radio to a hot water pipe in my bedroom and ground the water pipe to the electric ground in the basement ? thanks !

 

[undertaker]

Looking good my friend!!

 

[222DBFL]

Yes you can run a ground wire from your radio down the mast to the ground rod. I would use a good large wire, something like #2awg thhn or #2awg solid wire. Either should work well. Also I suggest getting a small ground buss bar for your radio room. This way you can ground all your equipment and also have room for future equipment as well. A 12" ground buss bar would work well. Jusr some food for thought.

 

[Bill Doyle]

Yes you can run a ground wire from your radio down the mast to the ground rod. I would use a good large wire, something like #2awg thhn or #2awg solid wire. Either should work well. Also I suggest getting a small ground buss bar for your radio room. This way you can ground all your equipment and also have room for future equipment as well. A 12" ground buss bar would work well. Jusr some food for thought.

Thanks ,. Undertaker
Do I have to keep the radio ground
wire from touching the mast ?
thanks again ! 73s

 

[222DBFL]

No it can touch the mast and in fact can be bolted to the mast on the way down. You want to try and make the ground as short as possible or use as heavy gauge wire, (THHN), or solid, to get to the ground rod from your 2nd floor radio room. JMHO. Don't go with anything smaller than #2awg. And if you can, look for a ground buss bar. Will make future installs a breeze for grounding anyways. Again, JMHO's and some food for thought. Hope this helps. Good day.

 

[Needle Bender]

Hi again !
I was just looking over my last post. I realized a made a couple of mistakes.
1st. of all I had a swr reading of 1.5 not a .5 and my power mike is a D-104 not a D-109.
But I'm sure you guys picked up on that anyway. 73 to all !!

I own a D107 if that makes you feel any better.

 

[Needle Bender]