AERIAL AND EARTH

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6808, 11 January 1929, Page 10

AERIAL AND EARTH

CLEAN ALL CONTACTS. The question of a, periodic ''cleanup” for the aerial system has coins into more than usual prominence of late. Frequently', however, the radio enthusiast, having managed to fix his aerial in a position which seems secure enough and gives fairly good results, is unwilling to go to the length of apparently undoing the good work as he' could not be sure of knowing the best plan to work upon when the all-im-portant length of wire is down. The same frequently applies to the earth. Assuming that the aerial has been dismantled, the first and most obvious thing to do is to test the mechanical strength of masts, Slavs, pulleys, etc., and to make sure that the system will withstand the additional stresses of winter. When mechanical strength has been brought up to par, the next task is to ensure strength by well cleaning everything from A to E. In' the older installations, the next point for examination is the aerial connection to the lighting gap, for if (as is frequently the case) it is unprotected, much trouble may be traced to this noint.

Another point which is frequently forgotten is that the aerial proper should on no account touch the aerial guys, whether these be of rope or of wire. The reason for this will be obvious. Earthing System. Now we come to the earthing system —another fruitful source of trouble. As in the case of the aerial, the lightning gap should be examined and the connections, if necessary, cleaned. Next the earth proper (I am assuming that this is of the buried rod or sheet variety) should be overhauled. While the overhauling is taking place, it is sometimes a good plan to make sure that there is no better place than tlie one you are using. For instance, an excellent earth is a rod (or plate) buried near a drainpipe leading from the roof, for any rain that falls will assist in keeping your earth damp and, consequently, stabilising the level of reception. Another efficient method of assuring a good earth connection is to mix the soil surrounding the rod with coke or, better still, totally to embed the rod in it.