Hello, Chris.   
      
   Sunday June 03 2012 at 20:38, you wrote to All:   
      
    CK> So, I'm thinking of stringing 50feet, from my window to a tree.   
    CK> Now, would I need a ground too? There are many articles but no one has   
    CK> said what works. I picked up an antenna book from the library and it   
    CK> talks about cutting 4-5 different lengths to pick up different bands.   
    CK> I just wanted to do the long wire in hopes of getting better   
    CK> reception. I could use the jack in the radio but I'm worried about   
    CK> harming it compared to just hooking to the whip. Perhaps it is all   
    CK> just 'trial and error' but no more knowlege before hand the better.   
      
   You do NOT have to worry about a ground as you are only receiving.  If you   
   were transmitting, then you'd have to worry about an earth ground and an   
   electrical ground.   
      
   You do NOT have to "cut" a wire to a specific length.  Again, you are not   
   transmitting, so it doesn't matter how long or short the antenna is but as was   
   said earlier, longer is better.  Height can make the most difference also when   
   receiving.   
      
   Plug your new antenna into the external antenna connector, that's what it's   
   for.  Connecting your antenna to the whip is like walking when you could drive.   
      
   You're putting way, way too much thought into this, Chris.  Just throw a wire   
   out the window and plug it into your radio.  Your radio will do the rest. :)   
      
   73 DE KD5COL,   
   Sean   
      
   ... Raising pet electric eels is gaining a lot of current popularity.   
   --- GoldED/2 3.0.1   
    * Origin: Outpost BBS / Johnson City, TN / outpost.slyip.net (1:18/200)