[TowerTalk] Air dielectric cable

[AA6DX]

Depends on the amount of moisture in your environment --- internal pressure,
via dry air or nitrogen, (etc?) help to prevent the water vapor in the air,
or from leaky connectors, from entering your coaxial cable, which in turn
affects the impedance, and can cause RF to arc, ruinicating the coax,
transmitter, etc.   I have known broadcast FM stations that were too cheap
to replenish the nitrogen suppy, and WAY too cheap to purchase a dry-air
pump (Andrews, ie) so the empty nitro tank sat for months on end, no
pressure in the cable at all.  But then, the RF being transmitted was about
10% of the rated power handling capability of the hard line.  73  --- Mark
AA6DX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <dick.hoff at kodak.com>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2003 5:20 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Air dielectric cable


> Is it necessary to pressurize air dielectric ? Are there any problems
> using it unpressurized?
>
> Dick AA5NT