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[TowerTalk] Old Coax and cable questions

To: Towertalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Old Coax and cable questions
From: kq2m@kq2m.com
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2025 15:19:41 -0500
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>

For the past 4 months I have been denuding my hilltop from 30 years growth of Poison Ivy/Sumac/Oak, Thorn Bushes of all types and thousands of saplings. In the process I have been discovering old coax, some of it in possibly re-useable and some of it ready for the landfill.

Questions:

1) I have heard people say that it can be taken to the scrapyard. With Copper ~ $5 / lb, is there any correlation to how much 1000' of old RG213 might be worth as scrap?

2) Can old coax be recycled as ground radials or elevated radials for verticals, 4-squares, etc? Does it need to be stripped to the Center Conductor or can it be connected to the cc or the braid? Does it matter whether the cc or the braid is connected to ground?

3) For Coax currently in service that has cuts in the PVC cover with some of the braid showing, does this need to be cut away and replaced or can it simply be taped over and then continue to be used?

4) I also have old 3 and 5 conductor unshielded cables in use outside that have had the white outside covering abraded and with some of the colored wire insulation showing.

Any idea what this might be worth at the scrapyard per 100'?

Can this be used as radial wire?

Tnx & 73


Bob, KQ2M





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