Hi all. I'm new to ham. I'm aware of the differences between RF and Electric ground for my Transceiver. I'm not ready for HF on my radio, but ready for VHF/UHF. I know that my vertical antenna is balanced and should have very low to no common mode current, but you never know. At the moment I haven't installed a grounding rod, but I will before HF transmission. My question is, what alternative ways can I ground the radio? I was suggested to ground the radio to the center screw of the electrical socket. Any suggestions?

73, KN6BST.

In article ,
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Hi all. I'm new to ham. I'm aware of the differences between RF and Electric ground for my Transceiver. I'm not ready for HF on my radio, but ready for VHF/UHF. I know that my vertical antenna is balanced and should have very low to no common mode current, but you never know. At the moment I haven't installed a grounding rod,
but I will before HF transmission. My question is, what alternative ways can I ground the radio? I was suggested to ground the radio to the center screw of the electrical socket. Any suggestions?

73, KN6BST.



For your antenna syatem to work at VHF and above a ground will not have
any effect signal wise. Unless your radio is laying on the ground, any
wire will not be effective as a ground for RF or a common mode current.

It will help protect you from lightning. If you can not put a ground
rod yet, then run a direct wire to the ground rod of the electrical
service. All ground rods need to be connected together with a wire.

A lillle more information would be helpful. Are you in a house, or
amprtment or something else ?


Ralph ku4pt