Grounding Help

[Hotsauce142]

I recently moved and I'm going to be setting up my HF antenna again.
At my previous location, my antenna was not grounded. I would always take it down, and unplug the radio and antenna during a storm.
I'm planning on continuing to unplug the radio just to be safe, but would like to keep the antenna up as safe as possible from now on.
From what I understand, grounding the antenna seems to be the way to go.

The type of antenna I have is a Comet CHA-250HD.
It is advertised as:
"No ground radials required and is not a 1/4 wave vertical, but an end-fed long wire type antenna with a matching transformer in a vertical position."

It will be approximately 35-40' in the air measuring from the top of the antenna.

My question is 2 part:
Does "no ground radials required" mean that the manufacture is stating a ground is not needed on this antenna, and its safe enough to run as is?

If I do need to put ground the antenna, is it as simple as putting an 8' copper rod in the ground and attaching a ground wire to somewhere on the antenna mast, down to the rod?

I appreciate the help... I'm still very new to the hobby.

 

[bharvey2]

Talking about "grounds" in radio terms can be a bit confusing. You often hear about ground or ground planes with respect to to antennas but that is most often referring to RF ground. - Sort or the yang to the radiating portion of the antenna's yin. However, there is a also an electrical ground that relates to the antenna system's installation. Roughly speaking the former relates to the antenna's performance whereas the latter concerns itself with the safe operation of the system (They aren't mutually exclusiive however.)

To answer your first question, the manufacturer is suggesting that the antenna will perform (this is subjective though) without an RF ground.

Your second question is more of an "it depends". The mast and coax shield (if using coax) should be properly bonded and grounded as spelled out in Article 800 of the National Electrical Code (NEC) However, there is more to it than just that depending upon your particular application. (Such as type of dwelling/building, whether a pre-existing electrical system is present, etc.)

Here is a link: Chapter 8 Communications Systems: Communications Systems, Texas SFM Electrical Code 2023 | UpCodes

I hope this helps you out.