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Connecting a long wire antenna to the K2 with the KAT2 tuner

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Mark Petrovic

Connecting a long wire antenna to the K2 with the KAT2 tuner

Hi. I suspect this is obvious to most readers, but to use a long wire
antenna with the K2 with the KAT2 option, one connects the antenna to the
ANT1 center conductor, and the counterpoises to the GND terminal?

Thanks.
Mark
AE6RT

--
Mark
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Nr4c

Re: Connecting a long wire antenna to the K2 with the KAT2 tuner

You might introduce a BALUN in between. Maybe a 9:1.

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On Jul 27, 2018, at 11:38 AM, Mark Petrovic <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Hi. I suspect this is obvious to most readers, but to use a long wire
> antenna with the K2 with the KAT2 option, one connects the antenna to the
> ANT1 center conductor, and the counterpoises to the GND terminal?
>
> Thanks.
> Mark
> AE6RT
>
> --
> Mark
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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Don Wilhelm

Re: Connecting a long wire antenna to the K2 with the KAT2 tuner

In reply to this post by Mark Petrovic

Mark,

While that might work, remember that the counterpoise(s) are a part of
the antenna, and not a "ground". It is better to use a BNC to binding
post adapter and connect the counterpoise to the black binding post - no
dependency on conductivity through the enclosure.
The BNC jack shells do not have a dependable low resistance path to the
GND post.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/27/2018 11:38 AM, Mark Petrovic wrote:
> Hi. I suspect this is obvious to most readers, but to use a long wire
> antenna with the K2 with the KAT2 option, one connects the antenna to the
> ANT1 center conductor, and the counterpoises to the GND terminal?
>
> Thanks.
> Mark
> AE6RT
>
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Mark Petrovic

Re: Connecting a long wire antenna to the K2 with the KAT2 tuner

Oh, I see. Thanks, Don.

The GND is used for earth-grounding the radio?

On Fri, Jul 27, 2018 at 11:02 AM Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

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Mark
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Curt Nixon

Re: Connecting a long wire antenna to the K2 with the KAT2 tuner

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm

So you are saying that a coax outer braid is not at ground potential
when connected to the BNC?   How does that work?   All the adapter does
dis connect the binding post to the BNC shell---seems this ADDS another
interface to the path.   What am I missing Don?

Curt KU8L   New to the K2

On 07/27/18 2:02 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Mark,
>
> While that might work, remember that the counterpoise(s) are a part of
> the antenna, and not a "ground". It is better to use a BNC to binding
> post adapter and connect the counterpoise to the black binding post -
> no dependency on conductivity through the enclosure.
> The BNC jack shells do not have a dependable low resistance path to
> the GND post.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 7/27/2018 11:38 AM, Mark Petrovic wrote:
>> Hi. I suspect this is obvious to most readers, but to use a long wire
>> antenna with the K2 with the KAT2 option, one connects the antenna to
>> the
>> ANT1 center conductor, and the counterpoises to the GND terminal?
>>
>> Thanks.
>> Mark
>> AE6RT
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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Jim Brown-10

Re: Connecting a long wire antenna to the K2 with the KAT2 tuner

On 7/27/2018 11:17 AM, Curt Nixon wrote:
> What am I missing Don?

The principles of how antennas work. RF current flows on BOTH the center
conductor and shell of that BNC connector. It's a simple series circuit.
The wire you CALL the antenna provides only half of that circuit -- a
counterpoise, the other half of the antenna, provides a return path. We
could, of course, connect it to a ground rod, but that causes the earth,
which is a (very) big resistor, to be the return path, so it can burn
(much) of the TX power. Far better to use a length of copper wire (a
quarter wave is ideal) to carry that return current.

A connection to mother earth is an important part of lightning
protection. It does NOT improve the operation of transmitting antennas.
It IS important for many receiving antennas.

73, Jim K9YC

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Mark Petrovic

Re: Connecting a long wire antenna to the K2 with the KAT2 tuner

In reply to this post by Mark Petrovic

Found the answer to my question:
https://www.mail-archive.com/elecraft@.../msg30186.html

On Fri, Jul 27, 2018 at 11:03 AM Mark Petrovic <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Oh, I see. Thanks, Don.
>
> The GND is used for earth-grounding the radio?
>
> On Fri, Jul 27, 2018 at 11:02 AM Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> Mark,
>>
>> While that might work, remember that the counterpoise(s) are a part of
>> the antenna, and not a "ground". It is better to use a BNC to binding
>> post adapter and connect the counterpoise to the black binding post - no
>> dependency on conductivity through the enclosure.
>> The BNC jack shells do not have a dependable low resistance path to the
>> GND post.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> On 7/27/2018 11:38 AM, Mark Petrovic wrote:
>> > Hi. I suspect this is obvious to most readers, but to use a long wire
>> > antenna with the K2 with the KAT2 option, one connects the antenna to
>> the
>> > ANT1 center conductor, and the counterpoises to the GND terminal?
>> >
>> > Thanks.
>> > Mark
>> > AE6RT
>> >
>>
>
>
> --
> Mark
>

Don Wilhelm

Re: Connecting a long wire antenna to the K2 with the KAT2 tuner

In reply to this post by Mark Petrovic

Mark,

Yes, that GND terminal connects to the enclosure. It is used for an AC
Safety ground and provides some measure of protection from lightning.
If you connect it to a shack ground rod, that rod must be connected to
the utility entry ground rod by a heavy (#4 or #6) wire on the outside
of the building.
If you cannot connect it to the Utility Entry Ground, it is my opinion
that the K2 (and other shack gear) is better of left not connected to
ground.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/27/2018 2:03 PM, Mark Petrovic wrote:

> Oh, I see. Thanks, Don.
>
> The GND is used for earth-grounding the radio?
>
> On Fri, Jul 27, 2018 at 11:02 AM Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]
> <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>
> Mark,
>
> While that might work, remember that the counterpoise(s) are a
> part of
> the antenna, and not a "ground". It is better to use a BNC to
> binding
> post adapter and connect the counterpoise to the black binding
> post - no
> dependency on conductivity through the enclosure.
> The BNC jack shells do not have a dependable low resistance path
> to the
> GND post.
>

Don Wilhelm

Re: Connecting a long wire antenna to the K2 with the KAT2 tuner

In reply to this post by Curt Nixon

Curt,

I am not saying that at all. The BNC connector shell connects to the
ground plane of the board(s).
I am only saying that it may not have an RF low impedance path to the
GND post - emphasis on Low "Impedance"

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/27/2018 2:17 PM, Curt Nixon wrote:

> So you are saying that a coax outer braid is not at ground potential
> when connected to the BNC?   How does that work?   All the adapter does
> dis connect the binding post to the BNC shell---seems this ADDS another
> interface to the path.   What am I missing Don?
>
> Curt KU8L   New to the K2
>
>
> On 07/27/18 2:02 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>> Mark,
>>
>> While that might work, remember that the counterpoise(s) are a part of
>> the antenna, and not a "ground". It is better to use a BNC to binding
>> post adapter and connect the counterpoise to the black binding post -
>> no dependency on conductivity through the enclosure.
>> The BNC jack shells do not have a dependable low resistance path to
>> the GND post.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> On 7/27/2018 11:38 AM, Mark Petrovic wrote:
>>> Hi. I suspect this is obvious to most readers, but to use a long wire
>>> antenna with the K2 with the KAT2 option, one connects the antenna to
>>> the
>>> ANT1 center conductor, and the counterpoises to the GND terminal?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>> Mark
>>> AE6RT
>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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Jim Brown-10

Re: Connecting a long wire antenna to the K2 with the KAT2 tuner

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm

On 7/27/2018 11:46 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> If you cannot connect it to the Utility Entry Ground, it is my opinion
> that the K2 (and other shack gear) is better of left not connected to
> ground.

This is not an option. ALL grounds within a building MUST, BOTH BY LAW,
and by good engineering practice, be bonded together. Failure to do so
is to INVITE lightning damage.

73, Jim K9YC

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