Hi Bob,
I have used old coax for radials and rotor control cable. For radials I just
tied the shield and center conductor together. For a 500' run to one tower I
used cheap RG8 with the shield for the ground conductor and the center for the
brake line (on a T2X). Been in service over 25 years, just laying on the ground
(now covered by years of forest debris).
Local scrap yards here usually take coax and insulated cables. They pay by the
pound. The $5 price you mentioned is likely for bare copper; price for
insulated copper wire is considerably less.
Taping up old coax or rotor cables if the sheath gets sliced may prolong its
life. For coax, I first peel back more of the sheath around any opening. If
there is bright copper shield visible then I may tape it (using Scotch 130C or
similar, then Scotch 33). If the shield is tarnished (dark) then it's time to
replace.
If you have an antenna analyzer with a TDR function, such as the Rig Expert
AA230, running this on a cable can also give a good indication of the condition.
73/Jon
Jon P. Zaimes, AA1K
Tower climber for hire
Felton, Delaware
http://www.aa1k.us/
Cell: 302-632-2353
Reviews of AA1K tower work on eham website:
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/12922
Hug your favorite tower every day, and always stay connected to it.
On Sunday, September 28, 2025 at 04:20:09 PM EDT, kq2m@kq2m.com
<kq2m@kq2m.com> wrote:
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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