SteveShannon

Two features I wish RT Systems would implement are automatic saves and automatic versioning. 

Two features I wish RT Systems would implement are automatic saves and automatic versioning. 

Two features I wish RT Systems would implement are automatic saves and automatic versioning. 

Yeah, lesson learned 🤦‍♂️ The instability is new to me, and makes RT Systems' software tempting when it shows up.
 
I do the multiple versions as as well, radio model and date, and save new versions as i go.  I do also save base code plugs before i start editing for the first time.
I was working from the latest codeplug for the vx7r, and just skipping the 6m items, but in the end went the spreadsheet route; exported it all as a CSV, and installed Open Office on that computer so i can open it.

Oh, I also save ALL my prior code plug versions for a particular radio series by model type and date.
Example:
NX-1300DUK5_BAS15_ARC4__20241118.dat
If I totally bugger up the code plug I at least have the prior one saved I can use to recover from. Normally there are only minor changes from the previous version.

Spreadsheets are one's friend when building large codeplugs. I also save every revision as a new file, with SN, version # and date as the file name. 

That's when one learns their lesson to save their work every 5 minutes. It sucks when you spend hours building a big code plug just to have it go POOF in the blink of an eye.😵‍💫

I've read about that. But the frequencies are incompatible with services in the US. I can picture people trying to use those frequencies, radios, here and the "interesting" results that will cause.

Same, considering I just bought another HT, maybe 3.......

I’m Steve and I’m a radioholic.

I think that those “altered elements” can be explained as notes that people made for themselves.

It sounds like what you have is good if I'm understanding it. You don't want to fuse a ground because if energy can't go to the ground it will go somewhere and that may not be where you want it to go. Side story to illustrate this is people using surge suppressing plug strips and plugging them into an older non grounded outlet. The plug strip suppression goes to ground when it sees a surge and if the ground is not there the energy has to go somewhere and I have personally witnessed these plug strips having caught fire in a non grounded situation. Like @SteveShannon said electricity will take the path of least resistance which is why we want to help it go somewhere safer. I have a surge suppressor for my service panel as well as plugs throughout the house for the very reason that what may not be fully captured by one can be captured by another down stream.

Keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to keep the lightening outside of the living space. And while you are doing that, don't introduce any ground loops.

You don't need a second rod. If the mast is mounted to the home I probably wouldn't have a second rod. If I had a tower that's another story. Each situation can be different depending on where and how your set up is so I try to avoid absolutes but the links @WRYZ926 included do a great job of covering different scenarios. You can find the relevant codes in the NEC 810.21, 250.52 and 250.70. 

It's better to have a ground rod right there (but it must be bonded to the service ground) and that's certainly what the ARRL would recommend, but there's no requirement to do so.  Remember, electricity takes the path of least resistance (but it divides itself amongst all paths). If you have a short wire going to your house and a long wire going to your service ground, a portion of the energy could easily go towards the house.
So, I would, but it's really up to you.

It's better to have a ground rod right there (but it must be bonded to the service ground) and that's certainly what the ARRL would recommend, but there's no requirement to do so.  Remember, electricity takes the path of least resistance (but it divides itself amongst all paths). If you have a short wire going to your house and a long wire going to your service ground, a portion of the energy could easily go towards the house.
So, I would, but it's really up to you.

I've nearly talked the HOA into putting up a repeater to be used post-hurricane, but some aren't convinced it would be worth the money. This is perfect for a dirt-cheap proof-of-concept demonstration.  And I already have a pool-cleaning pole.

You can use one wire or two. All roads need to lead to the service ground though. As the video mentions you can't run to two separate and separated grounds, they need to be bonded. bonding is different than grounding, bonding all grounds together removes any potential between grounds. This is why you don't use one ground rod at the service and another at the mast without them being connected ("bonded") together. 

When it comes right down to it, price and size both matter.  The Comet antennas will both have similar build quality, but the size of the Comet CA-712EFC results in better performance and higher price.  It’s also higher gain, which should not be confused with better performance, but should be considered more focused.  If the stations you wish to contact are more or less horizontally aligned with your station, contacts with them will be easier, but if they’re vastly different in elevation (angularity) horizontal gain might actually result in less signal reaching them or coming from them.
The CA-GMRS is a nice size for use in an attic, but you must recognize that its smaller size will result in different performance compared to the 712EFC.  It’s lower gain, so stations that are at a higher or lower angle may be heard better.
I have several Comet and Diamond antennas.  They are well built and perform well for my purposes. If I needed lower gain I would have no compunction about trying the CA-GMRS.  If I wanted higher gain I would get the CA-712EFC.  Both will do well if you mount them correctly and use appropriate feedline.  Neither will overcome topography or otherwise bad circumstances.  If you truly only want to do this once, bite the bullet and get the 712.  The added height is often the determining factor.

What you’ll probably want to do is place a ground rod at the base of the mast.  The coax will lead from the antenna feedpoint to the lead-in to the house where you will place an antenna discharge unit.  A ground wire will lead back from the ADU to the mast where it and the wire running from the mast will be bonded to that ground rod using a three wire connector. The three wires are: the wire from the ADU, the wire from the mast, and the wire that then runs to the service ground which would be a single buried #6 or greater bare wire.
I would make all of the ground rod connections using either crimp on Burndy style connectors or one-shot thermite connections.  
But I’m in Montana, unfamiliar with your local electrical inspectors, and with only a line drawing to work with. The only things I’m certain of are that your mast needs a ground rod, that ground rod must be bonded to the service ground, your ADU needs to be connected to your service ground, and I believe the NEC allows the wire from your ADU to be connected to the wire from the mast to the mast ground rod.

@WRUU653 - what would you recommend?  

I might have over did things in my setup. The service ground is in between my mast and where the coax cables enter the house. I put a ground rod at the base of the mast and another right below where the coax bulk head is. I tied both grounds rods to my service ground with 6 gauge wire. All of the ADU's are grounded to the rod at the entry point.
I made my own bulkhead using metal plates and long bulkheads (to get through the wall) along with a piece of 1/4" 20 all thread for grounding. I ran grounds from all my radios and my tuner to the all thread which is also connected to the ground rod just outside.

When it comes right down to it, price and size both matter.  The Comet antennas will both have similar build quality, but the size of the Comet CA-712EFC results in better performance and higher price.  It’s also higher gain, which should not be confused with better performance, but should be considered more focused.  If the stations you wish to contact are more or less horizontally aligned with your station, contacts with them will be easier, but if they’re vastly different in elevation (angularity) horizontal gain might actually result in less signal reaching them or coming from them.
The CA-GMRS is a nice size for use in an attic, but you must recognize that its smaller size will result in different performance compared to the 712EFC.  It’s lower gain, so stations that are at a higher or lower angle may be heard better.
I have several Comet and Diamond antennas.  They are well built and perform well for my purposes. If I needed lower gain I would have no compunction about trying the CA-GMRS.  If I wanted higher gain I would get the CA-712EFC.  Both will do well if you mount them correctly and use appropriate feedline.  Neither will overcome topography or otherwise bad circumstances.  If you truly only want to do this once, bite the bullet and get the 712.  The added height is often the determining factor.

You do not need two separate parallel conductors. You’re allowed to bond them together where they physically intersect. Understand that bonding is required to be permanent, using connections that cannot be easily undone.  Typical bonding methods include thermite copper welding or crimped connectors, not bolted cable clamps. 
The Mike Holt videos are very good. The Bible for comm site lightning protection is R56 from Motorola, but it’s very complicated and overkill for anyone other than a professional communications technician. 
I really like the succinct approach taken by the Reeve document.  It agrees with the Holt videos well:
https://reeve.com/Documents/Articles Papers/Reeve_AntennaSystemGroundingRequirements.pdf
 

I hae no experience with the CA-GMRS so I can't comment on it. I do have several Comet antennas and I have been very happy with all of them. I have a GP-9 and CA-712EFC base antennas along with a SBB-1 and 2x4SR mobile antennas. I don't think you will go wrong with the CA-GMRS if it is anything like the Comet antennas I have.

I enjoy working solutions like 703 did. Finding something that works for your needs on your budget. Sure there are other ways to do things but he got it done. I can see a use case for a simplex repeater like he put together.