Return-Path: Received: from mtain-mh11.r1000.mx.aol.com (mtain-mh11.r1000.mx.aol.com [172.29.96.223]) by air-db02.mail.aol.com (v128.3) with ESMTP id MAILINDB022-861c4bcc67212a6; Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:22:26 -0400 Received: from post.thorcom.com (post.thorcom.com [193.82.116.20]) by mtain-mh11.r1000.mx.aol.com (Internet Inbound) with ESMTP id 13BBE380000A7; Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:22:21 -0400 (EDT) Received: from majordom by post.thorcom.com with local (Exim 4.14) id 1O3rpT-0006GG-1L for rs_out_1@blacksheep.org; Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:20:03 +0100 Received: from [193.82.116.32] (helo=relay1.thorcom.net) by post.thorcom.com with esmtp (Exim 4.14) id 1O3rpS-0006G7-LM for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:20:02 +0100 Received: from imr-db03.mx.aol.com ([205.188.91.97]) by relay1.thorcom.net with esmtp (Exim 4.63) (envelope-from ) id 1O3rpP-0002VZ-E1 for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:20:02 +0100 Received: from mtaout-da06.r1000.mx.aol.com (mtaout-da06.r1000.mx.aol.com [172.29.51.134]) by imr-db03.mx.aol.com (8.14.1/8.14.1) with ESMTP id o3JEJntT032680 for ; Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:19:49 -0400 Received: from [192.168.1.68] (unknown [92.2.177.200]) by mtaout-da06.r1000.mx.aol.com (MUA/Third Party Client Interface) with ESMTPA id F0D33E0000E3 for ; Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:19:48 -0400 (EDT) From: g4gvw To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org In-Reply-To: References: Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:19:33 +0100 Message-Id: <1271686773.15779.9.camel@pat-compaq-evo> Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Evolution 2.26.1 X-Spam-Score: 0.0 (/) X-Spam-Report: autolearn=disabled,none Subject: Re: LF: Earth systems Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 2.63 (2004-01-11) on post.thorcom.com X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, hits=0.0 required=5.0 tests=none autolearn=no version=2.63 X-SA-Exim-Scanned: Yes Sender: owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org Precedence: bulk Reply-To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org X-Listname: rsgb_lf_group X-SA-Exim-Rcpt-To: rs_out_1@blacksheep.org X-SA-Exim-Scanned: No; SAEximRunCond expanded to false x-aol-global-disposition: G x-aol-sid: 3039ac1d60df4bcc671d746f X-AOL-IP: 193.82.116.20 Hi All, I can't remember who it was told me years ago but I have always considered it good practice to bond any substantial conductors (apart from those carrying power or signals) to my RF ground. This has included fence wires, unconnected pipework, guttering etc. Until recent times I have also thought it more worthwhile from an amateur radio point of view to bond and bury scrap copper piping from DIY plumbing projects rather than to seek the scrap metal value - this philosophy may have to change! 73 On Mon, 2010-04-19 at 13:58 +0100, Roger Lapthorn wrote: > Harry, > > If you have copper/metal pipes (as I do) in and to the house, then I > think you're right that the earth they provide can be quite effective. > This is my experience at 160m and 600m. > > 73s > Roger G3XBM > > On 19 April 2010 09:45, Harry Woodhouse > wrote: > Would experience of an 80 year old timer be any use? Most > water mains are now plastic, but if your house is pre-war like > mine, the original disused iron main still exists somewhere. I > found the old pipe in 2 neighbour's gardens, and connected a > 1KHz signal to each end. I then searched my garden with a > multi-turn loop for maximum signal. Digging down 4 feet I > found the pipe. I then made TWO connections to it, filing the > pipe clean, using 2 jubilee clips, and covering the lot with > grease & tape. The idea of 2 connections is that you can > always check continuity with an AVO to make sure BOTH are > still connected to the pipe. > > Regards, > > Harry G3MFW > > > > -- > http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/ > http://www.g3xbm.co.uk > http://www.youtube.com/user/g3xbm > G3XBM GQRP 1678 ISWL G11088 -- 73 es gd dx de pat g4gvw qth nr felixstowe uk (east coast, county of suffolk)