RF Ground

The base of the secondary coil needs to be connected to a dedicated ground for it to resonate properly. This RF (radio frequency) ground is not the same as the ground, or earth connection, of your house electricity supply. It is completely separate.

I have used a metal stake, hammered into the soil in my back garden. The larger the contact area between the ground and the burried metal object, the better the coil will perform.

[coil support]

The conductivity of the soil also affects the performance. A dry chalk soil is a poor RF ground but a wet clay ground is good. Remember to avoid burried power cables and sewer pipes etc..