[Chas]

- Is there a primer anywhere here on the basics of antennas?
- Does any of the Philco lit tell the user how to connect Antenna, Ground, and Red & Black? And what are those even for? (I haven't found any info here yet).
- I see lots of "advice" in various places, with little explanation. Like ground the radio but don't use house ground. Huh? Why not?
   - Speaking of grounds... is it advisable to install a new grounded power cord, connecting the ground to chassis?
    - Speaking of new cords, if a new polarized plug is used, does it matter where the neutral and hot wires go?

Wikipedia has several explanations on antennas. Be aware that many antennas mentioned are resonant by design to match a transmission line to the radio. If a domestic receiver has the option of two antenna connections then a transmission line can be used, with or without a ground. Most often that line is a balanced twisted pair, common wire in the 30's but can be easily replicated with modern wire. The twisted pair is roughly 72 ohms impedance, its connection to the antenna is specific in design such that the antenna "delivers" 72 ohms. Such an arrangement keeps the reception confined to the actual antenna and not the transmission line. Resonant antennas can be directional.

The most common antenna for receiving is the aperiodic and mostly non-directional, depending on what frequency is to be "listened" to (tuned) that antennas impedance varies widely. For BC reception the best results is that the lead-in (single insulated wire) is mostly vertical of some 20 to 50 feet but any vertical component is good.

The house grounding system is for protection from electrical faults not for the facilitation of RF, it is NOT a one-way street but has the connected noises from all the electrical device that are on the home circuits. It will introduce noise in most instances and instability in early regenerative radios.
Radios provide RF bypassing to the line in most models, ground the chassis to yhe AC line defeats the purpose as would using a polarized cord where none existed. Some radio models advise reversing the (plain) power cord if the radio has noises.

Only communications receivers (some) use a 3-wire grounded cord.

The antenna is only half the receiving equation, the other is the ground in most aperiodic antenna installations. That wire to EARTH should be as short as practical, can use a homes metal water plumbing if need be.

The result obtained from a outdoor antenna vary widely, all lightning protection must be followed.  Often protective covenants prevent an outdoor "visible" wire, so stealth means have to be used.

Often defaulting to an indoor loop antenna is the only answer, that too, is full of "landmines" Best suggestion is either build or buy a simple loop and experiment often it will work satisfactorily. Antennas will also vary when used for short wave generally much more directive.

GL

Chas