Another web site by;

™®

copyright BUX

Digital Communication applications associated with, HAM radio and related hobbies.

These pages are supported by:

BUX CommCo 115 & 211  LUENBURG  DRIVE   EVINGTON,  VIRGINIA  24550   FAX 434 525 7818

Noise is the enemy of Packet, Data, and Digital Communications.
 In addition to providing Equipment and Personnel Protection from lightning,
a good ground system will reduce noise in your Packet Station,
or your mountain-top communications site.

G. E. "Buck" Rogers Sr.

If you follow these Lightning Protection & Grounding procedures;
You're   Grounded !

ANTENNAS AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURES

Metal antenna structures that are anchored into the ground are inherently self-protected. Some radio systems antennas and beams may be damaged by direct lightning strokes.  In any case, they should be bonded to metal supporting structures to eliminate arcing. If the ability of an antenna to withstand direct lightning strokes is doubtful, Lightning rods atop the tower or supporting structure, to intercept lightning strokes should be provided where the transmission pattern permits.

Lightning rods may be attached directly to a metallic supporting structure and should protrude sufficiently above vulnerable elements to provide an adequate "cone of protection". Top lighting fixtures may also be subject to damage if they are not properly shielded.  Metallic antenna towers, either guyed or self-supporting, provide an excellent conducting path for stroke currents but the footings, base, and guy anchors of such structures must be properly connected to suitable grounding cables and earth electrodes.

When wood poles are used to support antennas a lightning rod should be provided at the top of the pole to intercept strokes.  This lightning rod should have a large size ground wire attached (cadwelded) to it and routed to a good earth ground system.  This will give protection against pole splitting and possible antenna damage.  In a common arrangement, a ground rod is attached to the pole with one end protruding sufficiently above the top of the pole to provide a suitable cone of protection.  A #6 AWG (or larger), solid, bare copper, down conductor is connected to the rod and stapled directly to the pole on the side opposite the coax or transmission line to the antenna.  All pole-top hardware, the antenna, and any supporting guys should be bonded to this grounding conductor.

At the base of the pole the shields of lines, equipment cabinets, and any other conducting objects should be bonded to the down lead which then must be connected to the common area ground system similar to that shown below.



An overview of how a communications site is grounded.


Your site should not contain an independent ground(s). ALL grounds should be connected together as shown in the illustration above. A single point (common) ground is noted by the Master Ground Bar or MGB, as shown.   Ground rods are chemical rod systems that are used in areas where grounds are hard to achieve.


The drawing above is a "cut-away" that illustrates how the chemical "L" ground is installed.   Chemical ground rods are also available in straight or "vertical" shaft design.

For those who want lightning protection, here is one of many, lightning protection device.
 

NOTICE
If you are unable to access the "PDG" SHOPPING CART
on these pages, "CLICK-HERE" and GO TO:
www.JAcomm.com

   A Secondary Lightning Protector
Remember the axiom; "An ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure."  This lightning protector
contains a modified spark gap that provides that
ounce of prevention.  We offer this device as a
secondary radio protector.   Remember, there is
no substitute for a good earth ground, AC line surge,
and spike protection. 

Keep all ground leads as short as possible.   Where lightning is involved,
we make no warranties.

$ 3.95 each     7516 

UHF DOUBLE FEMALE BULKHEAD (feed-thru) CONNECTORS


For bulkhead and through-the-wall UHF connector feed-thru connections, with keeper nuts.:

Order 7518-2  (Two inches)        $ 2.95 ea.             10 for $ 24.50  
Order 7518-4  (Four inches)       $ 3.95 ea.             10 for $ 34.50  
Order 7518-6  (Six inches)          $ 4.95 ea.             10 for $ 44.50  
Order 7518-8  (Eight inches)     $ 8.95 ea.              10 for $ 82.50  
Order 7518-10 (Ten inches)       $ 10.95ea.            10 for $ 99.50   
Order 7518-12 (Twelve inches) $12.95ea.             10 for $ 114.50 


Heavy Duty  (1") Nuts for the above bulkhead connectors.
2/.99 cents     HDM1-NUT         10 for $ 3.99  


50 Ohm impedance, 3 ft, 6 ft, 9 ft, 12 ft, & 18 feet.
These jumpers are made from high quality, low-loss, RG8X coax cable WxTite, PL-259 connectors installed at each end.
Three ft. (3')    ORDER No.      8X3-PLPL  $3.95    
Six ft. (6')         ORDER No.      8X6-PLPL  $4.95     
Nine ft. (9')      ORDER No.      8X9-PLPL  $5.95     
Twelve ft. (12')   ORDER No.  8X12-PLPL  $7.95  
Eighteen ft. (18')ORDER No.  8X18-PLPL  $8.95  

 

For more RF Connectors and communications site accessories; CLICK HERE !

At BUX COMM, *We don't cut corners!
The components used in the manufacture of our BALUNs are from top quality components, beginning with the Silver Plate SO239 connectors. The center insulator is teflon™(E.I Dupont). The wire we use to wind the ferrite donut is heavy-duty, silver flashed wire, with teflon™ insulation that will handle RF voltages above 5000 volts, and temperatures above 2000 degrees. The binding posts are heavy-duty, tempered brass, with end holes and side-thru holes to accommodate either type loop-thru connection. A double-shoulder brass capture nut is used to add a secure bite and improve antenna wire electrical connections.
 4:1  Balun,  BUXBALUN 41   $19.95

o 50 ohm, SO-239 unbalanced input
o Balanced output
o 1.6 to 50 MHz
o Toroid (Voltage) design
o Heavy Duty, Lightweight construction
o Sealed against moisture
____________________________________________________

1:1  Balun,  BUXBALUN 11  $19.95

o 50 ohm, SO-239 unbalanced input
o Balanced output
o 1.6 to 50 MHz
o Toroid (Current) design
o Heavy Duty, Lightweight construction
o Sealed against moisture
____________________________________________________
BUX UN UN De-Coupling transformer, similar to above, but has SO-239 (female)
input connector and output connector is 1 ft Mini 8 cable with PL-259 (male).
 BUX ONION  $19.95 

 

4:1, 1.5kw Balun,  BUX BALUN 41HD  $27.95
Toroid  design, wound with teflon covered, silver plated wire.* Heavy-Duty, construction.

1:1, 1.5kw Balun,  BUX BALUN 11HD  $27.95
Toroid  design, wound with teflon covered, silver plated wire.* Heavy-Duty, construction. 
 

BUX COMM ©graphic

BUX MOBALUN
When you hear those strong HF mobile signals, here's one reason they stand out from the rest.
By installing the BUX MoBalun near the input to your antenna, you deliver more RF energy to the antenna. At the same time, the BUX MoBalun prevents RF from traveling back along the shield (high SWR) of your coax. High power rating, Low-permeability toroid,  with Internal composition fiber-glass  to prevent vibration during mobile operation. For input and output connectors, we use only the best Silver plated, Teflon insulated, SO239 connectors.  500 watts PEP.  This MoBALUN is also ideal for marine antenna installations.
BUX COMM ©Photo

             $19.95  MOBALUN 

ANTENNA  INSULATORS

Weatherproof, (TENYTE) insulators.  Perfect for your DIPOLE or Windom antenna.
For the apartment dweller, you can now hang the 20 meter doublet
in the attic.   I've QSO'd with stations all over the world with the
33 ft dipole in the attic of my garage.   One insulator at the center, and one at each end.  

It's great for other HF WINDOM, single, and multi-band dipole antennas.  Dielectric strength is superior to the old ceramic insulators, without susceptibility to cracking or breakage under impact or extreme temperature changes.
Package of  3,  $2.99   ANTINSL3  

Package of 10,  "TeNyte" BUX TNT Insulators $8.99,  ANTINSLX10

 

The industry "work-horse" is the model 3710 for sale, $1100.00 Used, but in perfect condition. Reg price, $3000.00 (and 3730) Ground Tester. I consider my model model 3730 to be one of the most "user friendly" devices that I have ever used to test an existing ground system at communications sites.    Email for more info, to: [email protected]



Digital Ground Resistance Tester Model 4610 for sale, $2100.00 Reg &4600.00
Email for more info, to: [email protected]
(When it comes to making ground measurements and soil resistance tests, this "magic box" is my first choice!)

bulletMeasures from 0 to 1999 ohm
bulletDirect reading bridge
bulletFall-of-potential method
bulletAutoranging
bulletMeasures Ground Resistance (3-point) and soil resistivity (4-point)
bulletStep voltage tests
bulletTouch potential measurements
bulletContinuity tests on bonding 
The model Digital Ground Tester Model 4610 performs accurate ground resistance
measurements (3-point) on single rods or computer grids, and soil resistivity
measurements (4-point).  It may also be used for step voltage tests and touch
potential measurements.

The model Model 4610 is autoranging: It will automatically seek out the optimum
measurement range.  To use the tester, simply connect the leads, press to
measure, and read. This rugged, easy-to-use  tester is ideal for maintenance
crews performing multiple and repetitive tests.

Here are some rules of safety that could help save your life if lightning threatens.
  1. Stay indoors, and don't venture outside, unless absolutely necessary.
  2. Stay away from open doors and windows, fireplaces, radiators, stoves, metal pipes, sinks, and plug-in electrical appliances.
  3. Don't use plug-in electrical equipment like hair dryers, electric tooth brushes, or electric razors during the storm.
  4. Don't use the telephone during the storm; lightning may strike telephone lines outside.
  5. Don't take laundry off the clothesline.
  6. Don't work on fences, telephone or power lines, pipelines, or structural steel fabrication.
  7. Don't use metal objects like fishing rods and golf clubs. Golfers wearing cleated shoes are particularly good lightning-rods.
  8. Don't handle flammable materials in open containers.
  9. Stop yard work, especially when the mower or tractor is pulling metal equipment, and dismount. Tractors and other implements in metallic contact with the ground are sometimes struck by lightning.
  10. Keep away from water and off small boats.
  11. Stay in your automobile if you are traveling. Automobiles offer excellent lightning protection.
  12. Seek shelter in buildings. If no buildings are available, your best protection is a cave, ditch, canyon, or under head-high clumps of trees in open forest glades.
  13. When there is no shelter, avoid the highest object in the area. If only isolated trees are nearby, your best protection is to crouch in the open, keeping twice as far away from isolated trees as the trees are high.
  14. Avoid hill tops, open spaces, wire fences, metal clothes lines, exposed sheds, and any electrically conductive elevated objects.
  15. When you feel an electrical charge; if your hair stands on end or your skin tingles; lightning may be about to strike you. Drop to a prone position immediately!

e-Mail  WebMaster, Buck Rogers K4ABT

Web Page Design and HTML By G. E. 'Buck' Rogers Sr K4ABT d/b/a BUX CommCo™® ©
Copyright © 1996-2004,  All Rights Reserved

BUX CommCo™®   115  LUENBURG  DRIVE   EVINGTON,  VIRGINIA  24550

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