What is a good ground?  Most amateurs try to connect their equipment to a
ground rod driven into the ground as close to the shack as possible.  For a
few dollars you can purchase a half or five eighths inch diameter, 8 foot
long ground rod at any electrical supply store.  Drive this copper clad
steel rod into the ground outside of your house, as close to your station
location as possible.  Do not settle for the short, thin ground rods sold by
some discount electronics stores.  The copper cladding on the outside of
most of these steel rods is very thin, and they begin to rust almost
immediately when they are put in the ground. +