[SBE] conversation topic: how often do you check tower groundwires?

[Mike Langner]

For AM installations a good and quick way to check your radials is with a
clamp-on RF ammeter. The MFJ-853 is the one I use -- it's $60 and can be
seen at http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-853.

Typically once a year or so I walk around the tower base and do a quick
current reading in each radial.  It's amazing how the current will vary if
your radials are marginal -- lots of current in the good ones, little
current in the bad (short length) ones.

Not only will you get a good idea how your radial system's doing, but you'll
know exactly which radials are/are not in good shape.

Indeed, you can quickly check for RF in all sorts of places where it perhaps
shouldn't be -- audio cables, telephone lines, (small diameter) coaxial
cable outer surface currents, guy wires, etc.

I have no connection with MFJ enterprises.

Mike Langner
Former CE, Citadel Broadcasting Albuquerque Market
now retired but doing a bit of consulting --