Google News Feed on This Site

I just looked at my blog this morning and the first item on the Google News Feed in the sidebar was of local interest. Here is what it looked like:That's pretty interesting. I put the Newsfeed in the blog just to see if it worked and it has now proved it is useful as well.

CADWELD Ground Connections

This Blog has already turned out to be useful. After reading my Post below on the Ground Rod Tool, K4OM advised that the method of attaching the 2-inch copper strap to the ground rod by a hose clamp is not a good thing to do. Pete said that all mechanical connections loosen over time and the actual path to ground is from several to many ohms. Pete recommended CADWELD One-Shot connections. This is an exothermic welding process that leaves the connection current carrying (fusing) capacity equal to that of the conductor itself. So, I'm on the search now to determine which CADWELD product is the one I should use. I'll post my results here later.

Ground Rod Tool

Got an email Friday night from my good friend Rick, W8ZT. A couple of weeks ago I had asked him for his advice regarding a tool to help with the installation of ground rods which I had read about in QST. Rick jumped right on the project and his email to me tonight told me he had completed the fabrication of the tool. I'll pick it up this weekend and post a photo of it here. But, first, here is a photo of Rick in case you don't know who he is:I plan to put in three 8' rods around my new tower and join them with 2" copper strap. I think if I wrap the strap about 3/4 of the way around the rod and put a couple of slits in the strap, then I can tighten the strap to the rod with a hose clamp. Then, I'll put a ground rod clamp above that and run a No.4 wire to each tower leg. That should provide a pretty descent ground for the new tower.
Of course, if anyone locally wants to borrow this tool, just ask.

A New Beginning

So, this is a Blog?

I have long wondered about the usefulness of this piece of technology known as a Blog. I'm sometimes slow to adopt new technologies, preferring to let someone else work out the bugs before I jump into the fray. But, it seems like this "web log" or "blog" idea is beginning to take a firm hold on the Internet. In the last 13 years it has grown to over 106 MILLION blogs so it's about time I started one of my own.

I'll add some content to these ramblings before I make it known that I have such a thing. Then, it will appear to be a little more useful to people when they first see it. Please feel free to leave any comments or to email me about anything you see here.