[Elecraft] Antenna feedline Placement

[Hank Kohl K8DD]

At 3/17/2004 05:56 PM, Jim Corbitt wrote:


>          Is it OK to put 2 feedlines adjacent to each other to get 
> outside to the antennas?

IMHO ..... yes  The sum total of the diameters of all the cables / 2 should 
be the inside diameter of the plastic pipe.  Be sure to include the 
connector diameter as the cable diameter if the cables will have connectors 
when they go through the hole!

>One feedline is ladder line and the other is RG-8 coax.

Ah .... a lot of people will tell you not to do this, there will be 
losses.  Try it with the ladder line through the tube and try it with the 
ladder line routed out the window (temporarily) and see if you can tell the 
difference.

>One will go to a loop antenna and the other to a dipole.  Is it OK to put 
>the earth ground for the rig through the same opening?

I wouldn't.  Run it along the outside of the plastic pipe, or through a 
different hole.
If you are going through a cinder block wall above the ground level ......
Go down a couple of feet, drill another hole 30 - 45 degrees downwards and 
drive a ground rod through that hole, leaving an inch or two sticking out 
of the wall.  Fill the hole with cement.  When you move, saw it off flush 
with the wall and paint it the same color as the wall!

>    I was thinking of routing  a plastic pipe  through the basement wall 
> and up the side of the house for sort of a conduit to put the feedlines 
> in.   Would it be better to use a metal conduit?

No .... IMHO use plastic.

My opinion!

73    Hank    K8DD