Radio RF Ground Plane Kits Now Available at DX Engineering

Amateur Radio operators know that radio frequency interference (RFI) can significantly diminish transmitted and received signal quality. DX Engineering’s new Radio RF Ground Plane Kits offer an effective solution to this common problem by reducing stray RF pickup from indoor radio equipment and interconnecting cables.

The kits include a 1/16-inch-thick copper sheet. When placed under your HF radios, microphones and other devices, this RF ground plane, also known as a reference plane, decreases the chances of experiencing RF trouble. The copper sheet is connected to your existing grounding bus.

As noted by H. Ward Silver, N0AX, in his ARRL book, Grounding and Bonding for the Radio Amateur, employing a large surface area of metal improves upon the use of a single-conductor grounding bus by equalizing the RF electric field around equipment and on attached cables.

Used by top contesters and DXers, copper RF ground planes curtail voltage differences between pieces of equipment and associated currents that cause RF interference to transceivers, microphones, tuners, amplifiers, computers and other electronic equipment. Further, placing audio and data cables directly on the metal surface can lessen their ability to pick up RF.

DX Engineering Radio RF Ground Plane Kits come with either a 13” X 10”, 16” X 16”, or 20” X 20” pre-drilled copper sheet and all necessary hardware for easy installation. Kits are available with or without an MDF mounting board.

RF Ground Planes are intended for indoor use only and are not to be confused with ground planes or radial systems used for vertical antennas.

DX Engineering suggests these parts for use with the Radio RF Ground Plane Kit:

·    DX Engineering Tinned Copper Braid Straps with Ring Terminals to connect the equipment to the ground plane

·    DX Engineering Copper Cleaning Kit

SEE THE RADIO RF GROUND PLANE KITS NOW AVAILABLE AT DX ENGINEERING.