The way I normally run a balun on TX, is I keep the balun close to the ground. Although maybe out of hands reach where I do not have control over the enviroment. (On RX preventing fingers from touching anything is not important, other than during thunder storms.) I then run a short (insulated) wire from the balun to an earth stake. I also where ever possible, use an earth onto the radio, regardless of it is being used on RX only or not. However if it's a tranciver & the earth wire is more than a few meters long (say 3 to 5 meters) then I use what is called an artificial earth at the tranciver. As a longer earth wire can become part of the antenna system as it can become resonant & that adds problems, not removes them.
NB. One word of warning. If you ever start transmitting & want to use a artificial earth. ALWAYS fold the end of the short earth wire over & cover it well with insulating tape as the end of a tuned counterpoise. Which is what this is. Has very high voltages & will set fire to carpets etc.
