Radio Road

Posted by Timbo in Oz (A) on October 20, 2006 at 21:17:06

In Reply to: Static in my reception posted by dudeupshaw@cogeco.ca on October 19, 2006 at 11:10:48:

Tandy 'should but don't' sell them anymore.

You may need to put a spike-type VDResistor one that goes open circuit at fairly LOW signal levels but recovers - in the centre feed-line - for wind-caused static charges. Its a long enough boom to do that.

AM 'random' wire antennas also suffer from this and mine is suppressed for both static* and lightning, *coupla DC light bulbs can do this. OR A 3 terminal gaseous supressor, which will safely do both.

Buy/borrow a copy of "Joe Carrs Receieving Antenna Handbook".

You really must earth the coax down-leads outer shield, in any case as well.

Run it to a copper coated earth post, banged in to the ground, with car battery woven strip is best. OR If you have a copper bath or a fir bit of some copper pipe, bury it after attaching all the drain wires. Eg from the tuner's ground post, as well. If you still use vinyl run a wire from the TT's earth wire post on the pre-amp or integrated to the buried copper rod/thing.

Tie the wires to the system together and put a three terminal suppressor across the run _ _|_ _ run a lead from the third end to the buried/buryable earth.

AND, JIC, consider buy a small blade-switch to interrupt the coax outer and inner paths to the tuner. indoor bit of the earth path - for when it's thunderstorming or when you are away.

IE Buy a good indoor lightning interruptor, through which the coax from the wall goes at the very least.

Also run similar wire from the mast's metal itself, use a brass clamp, on a proper electrician's earth rod 8ft of copper coated steel. Bang in the post post directly underneath the mast. Clean the metal surfaces wire end and clmap, close it all up reall tight, and spray over it with waxoyl or the blue battery terminal paint.

Check it all every year.

Warmest

Timbo in Oz
The Skyptical Mensurer and Audio Scrounger

'Still not saluting.'

Read about and view system at:

http://www.theanalogdept.com/tim_bailey.htm