"John" wrote in message
om...
Im new to this and know this subject has been discussed in the past. I
have tried reading previous posts, but am still confused on the
subject. I want to put up a tv antenna. I plan on attaching the mast
to my facia. Radio shack sells cable with the ground wire attached,
which I plan on running into the house and grounding to a cold water
pipe.

The ground wire can be attached to the water pipe only if attached within 5
feet from where the underground metal water pipe enters the building. That
same pipe should already be connected to the electric power grounding
system.


The antenna will be mounted on the opposite side as my house ground.
Will this be enough? I really dont want wires running all over the
side/roof of my house.Also wil this also ground the mast or does that
need grounded to?
Thanks
John

The antenna lead-in should pass through an antenna discharge unit before it
enters the house. The ground wire can be attached to the mast (using an
appropriate clamp or lug), onward, through the ground lug on the discharge
unit, then on to the water pipe _if_the water pipe meets the requirements
stated above. Otherwise, drive a ground rod and connect it to that. The
ground rod then needs to be connected with a minimum #6 copper conductor to
the electric power grounding system. The ground wire from the mast should
be ran as straight as possible (line of sight) to ground. Use copper wire
if connecting to a ground rod.