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Installation
Chapter 2: Installation
98-144591-D
Grounding considerations
2.3 Ground connections
2.3.1 Grounding considerations
Proper system grounding is the most important installation detail for obtaining proper RF performance
of the MF/HF system.
Two areas of grounding must be considered:
a) The grounding connection between the ATU and grounding plane.
b) The grounding connection of the TU and the externally connected equipment.
Each area requires separate considerations even though they are interrelated. Ideally the Control Unit,
Transceiver Unit, Antenna Tuning Unit and the antenna ground-plane should all have the same RF
ground potential. Unfortunately this is seldomly achievable, but interference problems will be reduced
proportionately to how close to this "ideal" situation the actual grounding of the installation is achieved.
Ground loops may cause problems with heavy interference in an installation. A ground loop is caused
by more than one ground path being present for a given unit. This will introduce circulating RF currents
which may cause malfunction of other equipment onboard the ship as well as a “hot” handset.
2.3.2 RF ground loop
It is not always possible or practical to install the ATU so as to allow for a very short connection to the
actual ground-plane. In such a case the coaxial cable connecting the ATU and the TU each with a dif-
ferent ground potential, will cause RF loop currents to fl ow.
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