‰  NOW 13 WPM  ‰  TEXT IS FROM JANUARY 2015 QST PAGE 64  ‰

CONNECTION.  AS OPERATION AT SHORTER WAVELENGTHS BECAME MORE COMMON, THE
CONNECTION TO A GROUND ROD GOT ELECTRICALLY LONGER AND LESS EFFECTIVE.
HAMS WITH SHACKS ON AN UPPER FLOOR HAD AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AT ANY
FREQUENCY.  THE SOLUTION IS TO STOP LOOKING FOR THE ELUSIVE ZERO VOLTAGE
CONNECTION AT RF.  THE EARTH IS NOT A MAGIC DRAIN INTO WHICH ALL OF OUR
UNWANTED RF CAN BE POURED VIA A WIRE.  AN ELECTRICALLY LONG CONNECTION TO
THE EARTH IS USELESS AT RF AND OFTEN CAUSES RF RELATED PROBLEMS.  LETS GO
ƒ  QST DE W1AW  ‰
BACK TO WHAT THE PROBLEM REALLY IS WE HAVE PLACES IN THE SHACK WHERE HIGH
RF VOLTAGE EXISTS AND RF VOLTAGE DIFFERENCES THAT CAUSE RF CURRENT TO FLOW.
THESE PROBLEMS CAN BE ADDRESSED BY BONDING.  BONDING SOUNDS HEAVY DUTY AND
EXPENSIVE BUT ALL IT REALLY CONSISTS OF IS CONNECTING EQUIPMENT ENCLOSURES
TOGETHER WITH SHORT CONDUCTORS SO THEY HAVE THE SAME VOLTAGE.  THIS IS
PARTIALLY TAKEN CARE OF BY THE LOWIMPEDANCE CONNECTION PROVIDED BY SHIELDS
‰  END OF 13 WPM TEXT  ‰  QST DE W1AW  ƒ