[Antennas] using my extra ATU as ground counterpoise tuner

Wed Aug 4 12:37:21 EDT 2010

Using resonated wires as the equivalent of 1/4 radials is a good way of establishing an RF-ground, eg. if you live several stories up - lots of diagrams and articles around of LC circuits for doing this and MFJ has a unit designed to do just that BUT I have an extra ATU (Yaesu TC-700) so now I'm using it to simulate 1/4 ground radials. 
Seems to work (the FC-700 doesn't officially cover 160 but also seems to help on that band) -- haven't compared this set up to HB tuning networks yet. 
My actual 'antenna' ATU is an MFJ Deluxe Versa Tuner II -- the control knobs are too close together for my taste, and the power level pushbutton sticks, otherwise a nice unit)

ALSO, I usually connect ground returns to my heating radiator system and my cold water pipe to my ATU ground via BC-type variable capacitors -- so I can 'tune' these grounds for max. radiated output - from the antenna - not the ground systems. I'm keeping the series grounding variables in place, at least until I've determined they still are needed.
They give the advantage of galvanically isolating the rig from direct ground -- an RF choke across these caps would provide a DC/galvanic path if that should be deemed desirable w/regard to high static buildup or AC-wise ground return. I don't think it matters lightning-safety wise but that's an entirely different matter, one which I wont go into here.