How to earth a vertical antenna?

[vkcpolice]

Hi i have a 17ft vertical 27mhz antenna on my roof that simply connects to a pl259 connector (the normal cb one)
im just wondering how do you earth these antennas its a lighting rod at the moment and everytime there is a storm im constantly unplugging it. any ideas?

[SteveO]

Maybe you need one of these? http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/oxenford ... 1018571776

72899de_20.jpg

[Azoic]

Hi i have a 17ft vertical 27mhz antenna on my roof that simply connects to a pl259 connector (the normal cb one)
im just wondering how do you earth these antennas its a lighting rod at the moment and everytime there is a storm im constantly unplugging it. any ideas?

You dont actually have to worry, any electrical conductivity you may suffer isn't likely to cause an issue. I have been struck about 10 times in the last 35 years of radio operations, and the worst i have suffered is a melted solder joint at the junction box on my longwires.
I wont say your NOT going to be hit , but think of this.....do you suffer a hit of 1k10 Volts on the stick, and lose an antenna.....or unplug in the shack and have 250k10 amps wildly flashing about inside looking for a location to amp out? This will blow anything you have with a diode or capacitor in it....errant electricity is vastly more costly than a lightning strike.

The best option is to leave it plugged in and ground its mounting. Just run a 10mm wire from the mast to the water pipes on your house or flat. SIMPLE.

[jaskel]

yeah i earth the mast on mine with good results, i run ADB-S and no popped boxes yet. Run the cable with no sharp kinks down and run a 1.5mtr rod into the ground.