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MFJ-991 / MFJ-994 IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuners
Grounding Hints
To minimize RFI, single wire feedlines (such as used with Windom or longwire antennas) should be kept
away from other wiring. Radiation will be minimized if the single wire feeder runs parallel and
reasonably close to the wire that connects the tuner to the outdoor ground. The antenna feed wire should
be adequately insulated to prevent arcing or accidental contact.
For operator safety, a good outside earth ground or water pipe ground should always be
installed and connected to the case of the antenna tuner. Make certain the safety ground also
connects to the transmitter and other station accessories. A wing-nut post marked GROUND is
provided for ground connections.
For safety, please use good DC and RF grounds. It is particularly important to have a good RF ground
when using a single wire feeder. When using a single wire feeder, the tuner needs something to "push"
against in order to force current into the single wire feedline. If a good RF ground is not available, RF
will usually find its way back into the power line (RFI), transmitter audio circuits (RF feedback), or the
operator (RF burns).
Metal water pipes and ground rods provide good DC and AC safety grounds, but they are often
inadequate for RF grounding because they are single conductors. Ground rods by themselves are almost
useless for dependable RF grounding.
RF grounds work much better when "spread out" over a large area, especially when they employ multiple
connections directly to the equipment ground point. Metal water pipes, heating ducts, and fences may
work (especially if they are connected together with multiple wires), but the best RF grounds are radial
systems or multi-wire counterpoises. Radials and counterpoises provide large, low resistance surfaces for
RF energy.
RF and lightning travel on the surface of conductors. Braided or woven conductors have high surface
resistance to lightning and RF. Ground leads for RF and lightning should have wide smooth surfaces.
Avoid the use of woven or braided conductors in RF and lightning grounds unless the lead needs to be
flexible.
Antenna System Hints
Location
For the best performance, an end-fed longwire wire antenna should be at least one quarter-wavelength
long at the operating frequency. Horizontal dipole antennas should be at least a half-wavelength long and
located as high and clear as possible. While good RF grounds help the signal in almost any transmitting
installation, it is extremely important to have good RF grounds with long wire or other Marconi-style
antennas.
Matching Problems
Most matching problems occur when the antenna system presents an extremely high impedance to the
tuner. When the antenna impedance is much lower than the feedline impedance, an odd quarter-
© 2004 MFJ Enterprises, Inc.
CAUTION
Instruction Manual
13
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