Ground?

[314]

I live in a upstairs apartment, I was able to get an antron99 on my patio.. Now with folks below me, its impossible to have a ground rod for grounding, I do have a water heater with copper pipes 15ft next to me in my apartment. My question of course would be, would that be good enough to run a wire to the cold pipe? Or is that kinda overkill?

 

[oldtymer]

Not if it is a gas water heater.

 

[314]

No gas all electric

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

MFJ makes a device that creates an artificial ground for RF.

 

[M0GVZ]

Wire isn't good enough, needs to be flattened braid at the very least - to get the same conductivity for RF as flattened braid from RG213 you'd need 0000 AWG cable. Also beware it'll introduce RF into your home which may affect some of your electronic kit and that the pipework may not be all metal, it may be plastic somewhere further down the line in the building.

As Shaded Mechanic posted the MFJ Artificial Ground may be a better solution.

 

[unit_399]

314 -

Maybe you can find some help here: https://www.w8ji.com/station_ground.htm

This site has a lot of good info on station grounding, and also has a section devoted specifically to "second floor grounds."

73s.

- 399

 

[BJ radionut]

https://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-931
1.8 MHZ TO 30 MHZ, 300 W
As with a lot of MFJ tuners...more like 150w