[TowerTalk] Buried HF/VHF feedlines

[Jonathan - KE0YBL]

Overhead is a novel idea, but probably won't work in this instance. Trees, corners, angles, and an attempt to keep things aesthetic. I'd consider above-ground, but it'd always be in the way. I speak from experience, I currently have several runs of RG-213 and LMR400 across the grass to my current stuff. :)

Local soil conditions aren't an issue here -- rich black soil down to clay a few feet down. No junk in the soil to be concerned about. Perhaps that's another vote for direct bury without conduit.

With regards to fiber, I've put in thousands of feet of direct bury fiber in this area without issue, some from even the early days and still fine. I'm not too concerned with that -- it's the magical crushing of RF cable that I don't have experience with (but my climber does). However, I'm not sure I've heard that from you fine folks.

Jonathan

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
On Saturday, July 25, 2020 1:57 PM, Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com> wrote:

> On 7/25/2020 11:42 AM, Robert Harmon wrote:
>
> > Another idea is to forget about going underground and go overhead. Suspend the cable from a catenary wire rope cable about 8 feet high.
>
> Yes. Part of the runs from some RX antennas are done this way. In
> addition to suspending from a rope, Kellums grips are widely used by
> telecom and CATV drops. Look for the type with two parts that separate
> so that they can be clamped around the cable rather than needing to
> slide it over one end (and a connector). Also, study specs defining
> their mechanical strength -- I recently had one break on a feedline from
> a high dipole when the wind blew.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
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