These rules apply to all types of stations, including base, mobile, aviation and marine. They are very important for planning and installing your HF system if you want to achieve good communications.

1. Install transceiver as close to your operation site and to the power supply system as possible (whether it is an external power supply or battery system).

2. The antenna must be installed in an open space and as far as possible from your operating point. As an example, on a sailboat, use the backstay as the antenna, since it is the farthest point away from the rest of the vessel.

3. The antenna coupler should be installed as close the the feed point of the antenna as possible.

4. Always create your own ground with radial wire or copper straps. They are the only ones that will guarantee a solid and proper ground system.

5. All cables - power supply, control or coaxial - must always be as short as possible and/or necessary. Any excess cable should be shortened to the proper length - never coiled.

Following these rules will minimize marginal installations and problems such as RF feedback in the radio, power supply or cables and "hot" or RF burning microphones. If all of the above guidelines are followed during the design and installation of your HF system, you can expect optimum performance from your station.