DX Engineering Radio RF Ground Plane Kits

DX Engineering Radio RF Ground Plane Kits provide an effective method of reducing stray RF pickup by equipment and interconnecting cables. Used under and electrically bonded to radio equipment, these 1/16 inch thick, pre-drilled aluminum or copper sheets create an RF reference plane that must also be connected to an existing grounding bus.

As described in the ARRL's "Grounding and Bonding for the Radio Amateur - 2nd Edition" by H. Ward Silver, N0AX; a large surface area of metal improves upon the single conductor grounding bus by equalizing the RF E-field (electric field) around equipment and attached cables. This reduces voltage differences between pieces of equipment and the associated currents that cause RF interference to transceivers, microphones and accessories. The reduction in RF interference improves both transmitted and received signal quality.

As used by top contesters and DXers alike, a flat metal sheet placed under equipment, along with physically short grounding braids, wires and interconnection cables can significantly reduce the RF voltage differences between cables and equipment. The chance of RF trouble in your equipment is reduced by installing DX Engineering Radio RF Ground Plane Kits in your station.

NOTE: These are indoor radio equipment RF ground planes, used under the equipment, and are not to be confused with a tubing ground plane or radial system on a vertical antenna. The only interconnection between any antenna and this equipment RF ground plane is incidental, through the shield of the properly protected and grounded coaxial cable which is connected to the transceiver.

Radio RF Ground Plane Kits are available in 12 versions; three sizes of aluminum or copper plate with hardware and the same three sizes of aluminum or copper plates with companion mounting boards made of 1/2 inch thick Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), with hardware.

All kits are intended for indoor use only:

Aluminum

• DXE-RGP-SA - Small Aluminum Sheet - 13x10x0.063 inch with hardware

• DXE-RGP-MA - Medium Aluminum Sheet - 16x16x0.063 inch with hardware

• DXE-RGP-LA - Large Aluminum Sheet - 20x20x0.063 inch with hardware

• DXE-RGP-SAB - Small Aluminum Sheet and MDF Board - 13x10x0.063 inch with 12.25x10.50x0.50 inch board and hardware

• DXE-RGP-MAB - Medium Aluminum Sheet and MDF Board - 16x16x0.063 inch with 16.50x15.25x0.50 inch board and hardware

• DXE-RGP-LAB - Large Aluminum Sheet and MDF Board - 20x20x0.063 inch with 20.50x19.25x0.50 inch. board and hardware

Copper

• DXE-RGP-SC - Small Copper Sheet - 13x10x0.063 inch with hardware

• DXE-RGP-MC - Medium Copper Sheet - 16x16x0.063 inch with hardware

• DXE-RGP-LC - Large Copper Sheet - 20x20x0.063 inch with hardware

• DXE-RGP-SCB - Small Copper Sheet and MDF Board" - 13x10x0.063 inch with 12.25x10.50x0.50 inch board and hardware

• DXE-RGP-MCB - Medium Copper Sheet and MDF Board - 16x16x0.063 inch with 16.50x15.25x0.50 inch board and hardware

• DXE-RGP-LCB - Large Copper Sheet and MDF Board - 20x20x0.063 inch with 20.50x19.25x0.50 inch. board and hardware