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Three Grounds Walk Into A Shack: Lightning, RF, And The Bond Between Them
by Jon KL2A

Ground is three different jobs wearing one word: lightning protection, the RF return, and bonding. Here is the untangling, with the bookshelf open -- N0AX, N6LF, and K9YC.

カテゴリー : Feedline & Chokes, Grounding & Lightning, Signal Lab

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Ground Is Two Jobs Wearing One Name
by Jon KL2A

Does your vertical need a ground rod? One of our operators asked before his first contact. The answer splits into two jobs: RF ground (you do not need one) and lightning ground (bond, do not isolate). N0AX and K9YC point the way.

カテゴリー : Grounding & Lightning, Signal Lab

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No Radials Vertical Antenna: Two Kinds, Only One Works
by Jon KL2A

The skeptics are right about end-fed "no radial" verticals -- and the same published authorities exempt the vertical dipole. Two designs, one marketing phrase, and three questions that sort any claim in under a minute.

カテゴリー : Grounding & Lightning, Signal Lab

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Worth every penny!

I added this tilt mount on my older (2.25") 28' flagpole and I couldn't be more pleased with how well it works for me. I can now drop down or raise my flagpole by myself in about 5 minutes in each direction. This mount is an engineering beast with how well it is constructed! Previously I had to wait and get another person to help lift the base out of the PVC pipe and help lower it hoping that it came down as planned. Going up was even more of a challenge getting the base into the hole and raising it back up. That's 33 feet of wiggling aluminum and not so easy to manage even with two people. With this mount I don't even give it a second thought about doing maintenance or lowering it for an impending storm. It's straight coming down and going back up with no overshoot. Or worries. This is an excellent investment in both time and money!

Gary, coming from someone who's flown one of our early 28-footers for years, that means a lot. Thanks for the upgrade and the kind words. — Jon KL2A

Aperture makes a difference

I find that the added 4 feet makes a difference, along with the 9' whip and tilt base. Signals are stronger on receive, and my transmit reach appears to have extended based on signal reports. Still adding many DX contacts to the log! Looking forward to getting the aluminum cap for the 2" to whip transition. I believe that will help as well.

Christopher, the extension, the whip, and the tilt together are the full aperture system, and your log shows it. Thanks for taking the time to write this up. — Jon KL2A

Size Does Matter!

I was already happy with my DXF24 flagpole, but adding the 4' extension made a great thing even better! My setup is the 28' flagpole with the tilt-over base, 1:1 balun at the base with 40' LMR400 to my KAT500 tuner in the shack.

My first week after adding the 4 foot extension (a super easy job with the tilt-over!), I logged RI1FJL on 15m and P29YY on 17m, and discovered I could now make QSOs on 80 meters. I hadn't made a QSO on 80 meters I moved into this HOA community 21 years ago!

If I had room for the 9' whip on top, I would add that next and probably gain 160 meters. But this current flagpole setup is giving me 80 thru 6 and tons of QSOs, all with convenient band switching from my shack. Yes, it's fun again!

Tom, 80 meters for the first time in 21 years, from an HOA lot — that's the whole case for aperture in one line. RI1FJL and P29YY in the first week didn't hurt either. Thanks for the report, and see you on 80. — Jon KL2A

Doesn't get any easier

I've had my 24ft flag pole for about a year and each time I wanted to do any maintenance it required another person and even then as we get older it's a task and a half. The installation of the tilt up base was to easy. As described by others, loosen the three bolts, remove the second one and up or down is a cake walk. I always had a little wobble at the ground when the wind blows so I fashioned a shim from some aluminum flashing, shaped like a shoe horn and now it remains straight up in the wind. I have some experiments planed which I will now be able to do without help from another person.

Bart, no second person, no ladder, maintenance on your own schedule — that's exactly why the tilt exists. Thanks for the shim tip too; it's gone to our shop. Enjoy the experiments. — Jon KL2A

Game Changer

It’s not the weight of the antenna - it’s the fulcrum. Before the tilt up base it was a two person job. Now it’s a very simple operation to raise and lower the antenna. Great addition, especially in Eastern North Carolina where severe weather is abundant.

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Three Grounds Walk Into A Shack: Lightning, RF, And The Bond Between Them

Ground Is Two Jobs Wearing One Name

No Radials Vertical Antenna: Two Kinds, Only One Works

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