[TowerTalk] Old Coax and cable questions

[Leeson]

My own experience is that, once there's a breach in the plastic 
sheathing, water leaches up and down the entire braid, eventually 
rendering the coax useless. I've taped some up and it still seems to be 
working, but I've also had major contest disappointment when a whole 
tower of antennas proved disconnected from bad coax braid.

One test is to measure the electrical resistance of the center and the 
braid from end to end, comparing it to known good cable.

Dave, W6NL/HC8L

On 9/28/25 1:19 PM, kq2m at 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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