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Connecting antenna ground to sheet metal/ground plane?

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SteveR

Active Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2005
Messages
37
Location
Norman, OK
I'm hoping to install an external COM antenna next weekend, but I'm wondering what an acceptable ground connection is. The radiating element will be a 24" brass rod mounted to the belly of the plane. I'm guessing a typical bolt/lug next to this rod for the ground might be too lossy for a high-frequency connection like this, or is that only a factor on the "signal" wire?

If I solder the RG-58 outer braid to a lug, then bolt the lug to the (cleaned & sanded) ground plane/sheet metal on the belly, will this be an adequate connection? Is there a better way to attach the ground? The rest of the airframe is not (intentionally) grounded to the electrical system at any point.
 
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