Next message: David Vrona: "Re: lv-ab: confusion on the ground"
What do you really do? I have
a built in grounding system that came
with the boat, foil through the bilge, ground foil to the tuner and radio,
connected to the DC ground. I have Marelon through hulls, so no
connection there, but bonded to the lead keel also. Generally, what
you do is take an SWR meter and see how a transmitter performs. You
can then add grounding foil and look at the difference. It doesn't have
to be your final radio, BTW, but looking at the VSWR using the
grounding system is really the best way to tell. I get a VSWR of ~1.2
with my built in system, using an SGC230 tuner, BTW.
>
> Well, first
off, I must admit to being challenged electrically.
> Sometimes
I have to think twice about plugging something in, so you
> can imagine
how confused I am about which way to plan my ground
for my
> new ssb.
>
> So far I've
heard:
> *use a dynaplate
or not
> *tie everything
into the bonding system
> *tie the ssb
ground into one ground onboard at a time till you get
> maximum range
*glass in bronze screen......is that above or below
the
> waterline
and is there a cable running from the screen to a
ground(s)?
> *debond my
Cape Dory system because its rotting my gear (does
that
> work in fresh
water?) and will ruin my RF, now what was that again?
> :-) *drag
a ground cable astern while using the radio *each boat is
> different,
so it doesn't matter...... what's a poor boy to do? :-\
>
> I just wanted
a cheap (am I kidding, this is a boat! :-D ), easy,
> reliable way
to ground the ssb.
>
> Guess I'll
just have to wing it and look for St. Elmo's fire around my
> mast antenna,
now will surely improve my chances of reception? ;-)
>
> However I'm
taking heart in the 300 or so pages of lit I've been
> offered, (thanks
to all who provided the sites to dig it up) and am
> positive I'll
be able to muck it up in true sailor fashion. :-)
>
> BTW, If you
see a 33 Cape Dory in an anchorage near you, with
strange
> blue light
emanating from the portholes, well you know the drill!!
>
> My 10 year
old son was looking over my shoulder after I finished
> writing this
and had a cherry comment.........Dad, what did they do
> before radio's,
wasn't it nice and quiet onboard? Ah, the wisdom of
> youth!!
>
> sea u,
> mike
> LaVida
> CD33
>
J40 #33, Mal de Mer III
http://home.earthlink.net/~sded
KO6CK
