Big Country, I have been making jerky for years with a cheap dehydrator I got from K-Mart. Take my word for it, the ground meat is not as good as the sliced. Here is how I do it.
(1)Start out with good meat sliced from a ham or backstrap.
(2)Slice it thin and tenderize it with a meat hammer.
(3)Dry it good with paper towels.
(4)Buy some jerky seasoning from Hi Mountain.I use the Hickory Blend. Theirs is just right-a little bite but not too hot. Never marinade in any kind of liquid. thats the purpose of putting it in a dehydrater-GET THE WATER OUT!
(5)Follow the directions on the package which includes mixing the seasoning and the cure and put it in a ziploc bag in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
(6)Mine takes 12 hours on the small motered dehydrator I have.
(7)Take it out and lay it on paper towels and let cool.
(8)I don't know how long it will keep in a ziploc bag, but I found a piece in a bag in my old hunting coat that had been there for 2 years and it was still good.
I have tried all kinds of meat done in the oven, in the sun etc.. this is the ONLY way I will ever do any jerky for the rest of my life. Trust me.