RF Ground

[Crusty Ol Salt]

I believe the RF ground is a no load bearing ground. Looking at my panel diagram and my 12V system diagram. I do not see any mention of it.

Does the H280 have one?

For future reference does every boat have one?

 

[dlochner]

I don't think VHF radios need a ground plane like HF radios do. If they did, handheld VHF radios wouldn't work.

 

[JamesG161]

If RF = Radio Frequency then check here

SSB and Ham Operators

Grounding does close a current loop.

Jim...

 

[JamesG161]

I don't think VHF radios need a ground plane like HF radios do

Sorry Dave, All RF's need a ground plane to Transmit. Even handhelds.
Jim...

 

[Davidasailor26]

I’m not an RF expert, but my understanding is that most commonly used marine VHF antennas (handhelds included) have a built-in ground plane, making an extra ground plane unnecessary. SSB, with its longer wavelength, makes it impossible to build that ground plane into the antenna.

A couple of references: Do I need a ground plane for a VHF antenna? – Shakespeare Marine and Does A VHF Antenna Need To Be Grounded? – Casual Navigation

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

People often conflate ground with counterpoise, the latter being essential to effective RF antenna balance.

Handhelds achieve a counterpoise by proximity to the hand/body which holds it. All unbalanced antennas require a counterpoise Regardless of whether it’s HF or VHF or any other part of the spectrum.


The confusion stems from the fact that a counterpoise may often be achieved by a ground system.

 

[JamesG161]

@Crusty Ol Salt is talking about his boat and, if the RF ground has a current load.

My answer is yes, when transmitting.
Jim...

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

I am finishing the installing of a new depth finder. The power cable has a red, black, and a non shielded silver wire.

The installation guide (below) tells me to connect it to the vessel's RF ground.

I am not sure what it is? Sorry for the poor image. My scanner has decided to hate me......

 

[Davidasailor26]

In that context they just mean a ground that provides shielding. That way any spurious RF noise gets picked up by the silver wire and sent to ground before it can induce a current on the data wires.