Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:53:49 -0700
From: jimlux <jimlux@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Coax Question
Kipton Moravec wrote:
> On Tue, 2010-04-13 at 07:15 +0000, van wd8aam wrote:
>> In regards to long runs of coax, has any thought EVER been
>> given to RG213 to a remote tuned high power amplifier
>> at the base of the tower. I've thought about it, and for
>> costs, it might be cost effective. I'm sure someone has this
>> working for them somewhere. What do you guru's say to this?
>> van
>> wd8aam
## it's already been done.. and that was 10 yrs ago !
The kicker is... if you have say 3 db of loss back to the
station, then you need an extra 3db of drive power. You
also LOSE 3 db on RX ! You also require a LONG run of 240 vac
line, to base of tower, OR a 240-600 vac xfmr at the house..
then another 600-240vac step down xfmr at base of tower.
## getting the power out there is gonna kill it right there.
600-240 xfmrs [can be run either way] in 5-10 kva
variety are available surplus.. then some small ga wire
could be used. Usually, the xfmr at the far end will have
taps on it.. like 575v.. or 550v etc.... to factor in the V drop,
so u end up getting the full 240 vac... but only under full bore load.
No load, the V will rise > 240vac . BIG ga AL wire between the
2 x xfmr's would work.
## Ok, now you need a small, secure, heated building, to put the
xfmr plus 1.5 kw amp, plus any SDR radio, etc.
## In the final analysis, cheaper to just use BIG coax.
## Most telco's in NA, have what's called an "IRG"
[inventory recovery group]... usually now run by contractor's, whose
job it is to store un-used eq.. AND cable. They sell cheap, to dispose of this
junk, at pennies on the dollar. A buddy in W7 land picked up several
1000' spools of 7/8" heliax, NEW... for $116.00 per reel. The usual deal is,
some proposed cell site new job/addition gets cancelled, AFTER the eq has
arrived. It then all goes to the IRG warehouse. Meanwhile, the same engineer
orders all new eq for yet another site ! Most of the contractor's at the
various IRG's
wouldn't know heliax from a hole in the grnd. Lot's of other good stuff, like
19" /24" racks, etc. You have to be in the right place.. at the right time..
you
snooze, you lose. If you see 5 x 5'-6' diam reels of coax... and it sez
'ANDREW'
on the side of it, snap it up, pay CASH, and get it outa there asap.
Andrew also makes heliax in corogated AL shield these days... [ instead of
Cu] The newer AL stuff still uses a CU tube in the middle.
## Plan B is the catv coax route. Most of their stuff is 3/4" OD, with a 8
ga center
conductor. Solid AL sheath, so you need the coring tool, to put the fittings on
em.
Modified LMR-600 connector's might also work.
later... Jim VE7RF
>>
>> At 06:04 4/13/2010, you wrote:
>>> On Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:07:25 -0400, Steve Bagley wrote:
>>>
>>>> I am putting up a tower and will need to run about 500 feet of coax.
>>> http://audiosystemsgroup.com/Coax-Stubs.pdf
>>>
>>>
>
> I would probably put a Software Defined Radio (and computer) at the base
> of the tower and run Ethernet cable back to the shack. Even with that
> you will need a switch in the middle as Ethernet has length limit of 300
> feet.
>
> Kip
Use an 802.11 wireless LAN link with directional antennas. Now all you
do is run AC power out there.
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