Hmmmm "Phd"...Possibly Hostile Dolt? <G>
Nothing personal to anyone...at least...not on this list.
:o)))
On Wed, 2 Feb 2000 12:41:27 -0600 , Feldman, Jack (Jack) wrote:
> For all the complaining about previous owners messing things up, I see
that
> some folks are still recommending installing radios backwards by trying
to
> isolate them from the car chassis. DON'T DO IT!
>
> First is the simple idea that it is stupid to do something you know is
> wrong. Even if you are willing to risk the potential short circuit, it
won't
> work right. There is a reason for grounding the antenna.
>
> First the cars body acts as a counterpoise, which is necessary to good
> reception. In the good old days you had to have an actual connection to a
> ground. Things have improved, but not that much. You still need a second
> element besides the mast. My transmitter is grounded through an eight
foot
> spike driven into the ground. (A friend of mine claims he has trained his
> dog to keep the earth around his ground rod moist to aid in
conductivity).
>
> Secondly, cars generate a lot of noise. The ground and shielded lead is
one
> way to keep the noise from coming in through the antenna lead. That
doesn't
> eliminate alternator whine, or other interference from coming into the
radio
> though the power leads, but that can be eliminated other ways.
>
> The right method? There are adapters that allow radios to be hooked up in
> reverse polarity situations. J.C. Whitney usually has them, but they go
in
> and out of the catalog. They aren't in there now. I'm sure there are
other
> sources, perhaps a look at Hemmings will help.
>
> Respect your car. Do it right!
>
> Jack, KA9HEL
> Bell Labs
> (I was going to add my PH.D., but it was someone who signed his messages
> with a Ph.D. that recommended the idea of isolating the radio. Having one
is
> no gauge of universal knowledge, or any knowledge at all).
>
> J.
>
>
Dan Dwelley
77 Midget
Alexandria, Va.
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