[UK-CONTEST] Antenna Cables underground

[Chris Smith]

Hi John
             I have used 4 inch sewer piping that can be got at any hardware store, 
i have also placed inspection chambers at the end of each run which are designed for 4 inch piping.
Sewer piping is orange and a lot stronger and more expensive that the black or gray conduit, i think there might
be a pic on my website of laying one of these pipes, obviously there is permanently a rope left in the piping to take 
new cables, one bit of advise i would give is that any of the bends that you use should be greater than 90 degrees so
that you would be able to get anything larger than half inch heliax in into the future.

73!
Chris MI0LLL
http://www.mi0lll.com



----- Original Message ----
From: John Wayman <g4drs at btinternet.com>
To: UK Contest Reflector <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, 30 March, 2008 5:08:27 PM
Subject: [UK-CONTEST] Antenna Cables underground

I  want  to  replace  all  my  co-ax  runs  and  my  rotator  cable,  but  I  want  to  run  them  underground,  in  a  pipe.
I  would  like  to  be  able  to  pull  through  additional  runs  as  and  when  they  become  necessary.  There  will  be  3  or  4  runs  of  co-ax  and  one  of  rotator  cable,  plus  one  to  operate  the  remote  antenna  switch,  to  start  with.
In  your  experience,  what  is  the  best  way  to  achieve  this?
What  type  of  pipe  is  best,  bearing  in  mind  the  last  thing  I  want  is  for  a  PL259  to  get  jammed  in  a  join  halfway  between  shack  and  antenna?
How  are  the  ends  of  the  pipe  best  done?  Straight  up  with  a  U  bend  on  top,  or  into  a  suitable  enclosure  on  the  wall  of  the  shack  and  the  base  of  the  mast,  or  some  other  way?
Is  it  best  to  run  cables  up  guys  to  the  top  of  telescopic  masts,  or  should  I  run  them  all  the  way  up  from  the  bottom?  If  the  latter,  how  is  the  loop  best  dealt  with  when  the  mast  is  retracted?
When  laying  the  pipe,  how  does  one  get  the  rope,  to  be  used  for  pulling  the  cables,  all  the  way  from  one  end  to  the  other  to  start  with?

Any  other  nuggets  of  advice  born  out  of  experience  will  be  gratefully  received  -  I  only  want  to  do  this  once!

Cheers,



John,  G4DRS
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