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 <[email protected]>
> 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
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> G3XBM    GQRP 1678      ISWL G11088
-- 
73 es gd dx de pat g4gvw
 qth nr felixstowe uk
(east coast, county of suffolk)