Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - Roof Top Antennas
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Old 06-28-2015, 01:30 PM
Jima64 Jima64 is offline
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Default Path of least resistance.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tomwed View Post
Doesn't properly grounded mean that it is connected to a grounding rod buried in the ground?
I never could understand this point.
If a bird is sitting on a wire they are not shocked because they are not grounded. Both legs are connected to the same potential. If the bird was to put one leg on the ground they would be shocked.
Doesn't making the antennae a better conductor to the earth by grounding make it more susceptible to lighting strikes.

I don't know how to google this question so I'll ask a ham operator.
With the antenna properly grounded you have provided a direct route for any strike to reach the rod buried in the ground. Does not really increase the chance just lessens the possibility of damage. Large buildings use this concept to avoid damage.