[Mobile-Portable] thin antenna cable
Walter Cang
walter.cang at halcyoninc.com
Wed Nov 30 17:00:01 EST 2005
Very helpful replies. Thank you all. I might stick to RG58 since RG143 may not be worth cost. Unfortunately the rear of my blazer is mostly plastic &/or the gap is not wide enough to insert a mount in between. Unless I install a custom made bracket from under the body, the only place left is the engine hood.
The mount I have comes with 2 thin metal plates that prevents the screws from digging into the paint finish. I wonder if using it impedes grounding? On the other hand, it doesn't look to be corrosion resistant and with the amount of salt we use for Canuck winters, it's very likely to get corroded & lose contact in time. :( I'll give the "grease" treatment a try.
Walter VA3WYC
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mobile-portable-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:mobile-portable-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of
> mobile-portable-request at mailman.qth.net
> Sent: November 30, 2005 4:01 AM
> To: mobile-portable at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Mobile-Portable Digest, Vol 2, Issue 31
>
>
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> Today's Topics:
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> 1. Re: thin antenna cable (paul goble)
> 2. RE: thin antenna cable (J. Gordon Beattie, Jr.)
> 3. Re: thin antenna cable (paul goble)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 22:16:37 -0600
> From: paul goble <goblefam at swbell.net>
> Subject: Re: [Mobile-Portable] thin antenna cable
> To: Mobile-Portable Reflector <mobile-portable at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <438D27A5.94940B25 at swbell.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> On the lighter side:
>
> There are those of us running LMR600 on 902 and 1296 MHz....
>
> One might find it more practical to punch (greenlee) 3/4" holes in the
> FLOOR of one's vehicle, running cable through "rubber" body
> plugs (great
> weather seal). "N" connectors don't fit thru the 3/4" hole
> and must be
> installed after running the cable. Then mount antennas on brackets
> mounted to strong points under one's car and run
> aforementioned coax up
> the mast to antennas.
>
> .....of course, it's just easier to drive a pickup and not worry about
> cosmetics - HIHI!
>
> On the other hand, if it's for FM, why worry? 6-10dB is of only minor
> consideration on FM since it is a STRONG signal mode.....use a
> "thru-the-glass" vertical and forget about real antennas.....
>
> Oh, just to keep stirring this particular pot, remember that "REAL
> mobile antennas are omnidirectional".
>
> OK, so I kid a lot, but the disparaging remark about FM stands - HI!
>
> Best regards,
>
> Paul ND2X/5
>
>
>
> W6OAL at aol.com wrote:
> >
> > Walter,
> >
> > As you are experiencing mobile antennas and mobile
> operation is a
> > compromise in the first place. It would behoove you to get
> antennas and cables as
> > far from the engine compartment as possible. I have an
> Izusu Trooper (SUV) in
> > which I run an FT-897 and operate 40M thru 70cm. My thing
> is to run the
> > cables (RF) RG-400 and/or RG-142. They are fairly low
> loss. I don't know about
> > using that ultra thin stuff, much power and it seems to me
> that one might have a
> > fire to contend with. The dielectric of what I use is
> solid Teflon. The
> > shield is a tightly woven silver washed copper braid. These
> go from the rig back
> > along the drive shaft tunnel and under the back seat to
> the rear hatch (door
> > -whatever), up the hinge channel and under the rubber
> gasket to my antennas
> > which are mounted on some Comet (many degrees of freedom)
> mounts. That rubber
> > gasket fits over a seam of sorts. I have notched it with a
> rat tail file to
> > accommodate the coaxes. Leakage is not or at least as of
> yet has not been a
> > problem.
> > And, so there might be a little loss. Your mobile
> isn't going to be used
> > for any sort of competition work anyway so what is a
> little loss here and
> > there. Look at some of these commercial mobile
> installations, -6 dB is the norm
> > and acceptable loss in what they call a good installation.
> You probably
> > won't have all that much even if you use RG-58.
> >
> > CU 73, Dave...
> >
> > Olde Antenna Lab of Denver
> > David A. Clingerman, Sc.D. (CEO)
> >
> > ----
> > Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC,
> mobile-portable-owner at mailman.qth.net
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 00:06:03 -0500
> From: "J. Gordon Beattie, Jr." <w2ttt at arrl.net>
> Subject: RE: [Mobile-Portable] thin antenna cable
> To: "'Mobile-Portable Reflector'" <mobile-portable at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <000101c5f56b$c3a56770$6401a8c0 at W2TTTTB04>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Hi Folks!
> Here is another idea for passing cables up through the
> underside of your
> car:
> Drill holes in a square or rectangular shape, then using a
> piece of small
> heater hose, slit the hose and then cut it to the length of
> the perimeter of
> your hole. Presto! Instant Grommet!
> Then you can run LDF5-50 or larger through it with the connectors on!
> :-)
> 73,
> Gordon Beattie, W2TTT
> 201.314.6964
> w2ttt at arrl.net
> w2ttt at att.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mobile-portable-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:mobile-portable-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
> paul goble
> Sent: Tuesday, 29 November, 2005 23:17
> To: Mobile-Portable Reflector
> Subject: Re: [Mobile-Portable] thin antenna cable
>
> On the lighter side:
>
> There are those of us running LMR600 on 902 and 1296 MHz....
>
> One might find it more practical to punch (greenlee) 3/4" holes in the
> FLOOR of one's vehicle, running cable through "rubber" body
> plugs (great
> weather seal). "N" connectors don't fit thru the 3/4" hole
> and must be
> installed after running the cable. Then mount antennas on brackets
> mounted to strong points under one's car and run
> aforementioned coax up
> the mast to antennas.
>
> .....of course, it's just easier to drive a pickup and not worry about
> cosmetics - HIHI!
>
> On the other hand, if it's for FM, why worry? 6-10dB is of only minor
> consideration on FM since it is a STRONG signal mode.....use a
> "thru-the-glass" vertical and forget about real antennas.....
>
> Oh, just to keep stirring this particular pot, remember that "REAL
> mobile antennas are omnidirectional".
>
> OK, so I kid a lot, but the disparaging remark about FM stands - HI!
>
> Best regards,
>
> Paul ND2X/5
>
>
>
> W6OAL at aol.com wrote:
> >
> > Walter,
> >
> > As you are experiencing mobile antennas and mobile
> operation is a
> > compromise in the first place. It would behoove you to get
> antennas and
> cables as
> > far from the engine compartment as possible. I have an
> Izusu Trooper
> (SUV) in
> > which I run an FT-897 and operate 40M thru 70cm. My thing
> is to run the
> > cables (RF) RG-400 and/or RG-142. They are fairly low
> loss. I don't know
> about
> > using that ultra thin stuff, much power and it seems to me
> that one might
> have a
> > fire to contend with. The dielectric of what I use is
> solid Teflon. The
> > shield is a tightly woven silver washed copper braid. These
> go from the
> rig back
> > along the drive shaft tunnel and under the back seat to
> the rear hatch
> (door
> > -whatever), up the hinge channel and under the rubber gasket to my
> antennas
> > which are mounted on some Comet (many degrees of freedom)
> mounts. That
> rubber
> > gasket fits over a seam of sorts. I have notched it with a
> rat tail file
> to
> > accommodate the coaxes. Leakage is not or at least as of
> yet has not been
> a
> > problem.
> > And, so there might be a little loss. Your mobile
> isn't going to be
> used
> > for any sort of competition work anyway so what is a
> little loss here and
> > there. Look at some of these commercial mobile
> installations, -6 dB is
> the norm
> > and acceptable loss in what they call a good installation.
> You probably
> > won't have all that much even if you use RG-58.
> >
> > CU 73, Dave...
> >
> > Olde Antenna Lab of Denver
> > David A. Clingerman, Sc.D. (CEO)
> >
> > ----
> > Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC,
> mobile-portable-owner at mailman.qth.net
> ----
> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC,
> mobile-portable-owner at mailman.qth.net
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 23:43:20 -0600
> From: paul goble <goblefam at swbell.net>
> Subject: Re: [Mobile-Portable] thin antenna cable
> To: Mobile-Portable Reflector <mobile-portable at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <438D3BF8.D9830110 at swbell.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Roger a rectangular hole - I took one of the two air vents out of the
> back of my crewcab passenger compartment, cut a matching hole in the
> front of the pickup bed, made a flexible weather seal out of neoprene
> weatherstripping liberally "cemented" with silcon "sealant",
> and have a
> 7" x 3.625" opening (rounded corners) through which all cables (coax,
> power, control, whatever) can be run with impunity. I probably won't
> run anything larger than LMR600 (902 and 1296) or superflex (432) for
> the short runs I have (RG-214 for all lower freqs except RG-58 for all
> FM). The open space (that not clogged with cables of all types) is
> jammed with a big kitchen sponge. Sounds strange but works great!
>
> Kinda tough to do this in a Mercury, Saturn, Toyota, Nissan, whatever,
> automobile though - HIHI!
>
> See the mobile antenna farm at http://www.nd2x.net/pix/new.jpg - the
> obligatory FM antennas are the front two verticals on the roof of the
> cab (no holes in the cab roof - mag-mounted a 30"x30" sheet of 1/8"
> aluminum to the roof and mounted all the verticals on that) - the 6M
> vertical can be used for both narrowband ("real")
> communication and FM.
>
> Remember, I kid a lot - I tease "shack-on-the-belt" types all
> the time -
> it's a mental shortfall caused by spending the first 14 years of being
> licensed exclusively on 6M, mostly mobile; I miss good ol' Lafayette
> Radio - that Heathkit SB-110 was nice, but a tad large for
> mobile. Wish
> I had kept my 4-ring EBCO halo!! - HIHI!
>
> GN&73,
>
> Paul ND2X/5
>
> "J. Gordon Beattie, Jr." wrote:
> >
> > Hi Folks!
> > Here is another idea for passing cables up through the
> underside of your
> > car:
> > Drill holes in a square or rectangular shape, then using a
> piece of small
> > heater hose, slit the hose and then cut it to the length of
> the perimeter of
> > your hole. Presto! Instant Grommet!
> > Then you can run LDF5-50 or larger through it with the
> connectors on!
> > :-)
> > 73,
> > Gordon Beattie, W2TTT
> > 201.314.6964
> > w2ttt at arrl.net
> > w2ttt at att.com
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: mobile-portable-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> > [mailto:mobile-portable-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf
> Of paul goble
> > Sent: Tuesday, 29 November, 2005 23:17
> > To: Mobile-Portable Reflector
> > Subject: Re: [Mobile-Portable] thin antenna cable
> >
> > On the lighter side:
> >
> > There are those of us running LMR600 on 902 and 1296 MHz....
> >
> > One might find it more practical to punch (greenlee) 3/4"
> holes in the
> > FLOOR of one's vehicle, running cable through "rubber" body
> plugs (great
> > weather seal). "N" connectors don't fit thru the 3/4" hole
> and must be
> > installed after running the cable. Then mount antennas on brackets
> > mounted to strong points under one's car and run
> aforementioned coax up
> > the mast to antennas.
> >
> > .....of course, it's just easier to drive a pickup and not
> worry about
> > cosmetics - HIHI!
> >
> > On the other hand, if it's for FM, why worry? 6-10dB is of
> only minor
> > consideration on FM since it is a STRONG signal mode.....use a
> > "thru-the-glass" vertical and forget about real antennas.....
> >
> > Oh, just to keep stirring this particular pot, remember that "REAL
> > mobile antennas are omnidirectional".
> >
> > OK, so I kid a lot, but the disparaging remark about FM stands - HI!
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > Paul ND2X/5
> >
> > W6OAL at aol.com wrote:
> > >
> > > Walter,
> > >
> > > As you are experiencing mobile antennas and mobile
> operation is a
> > > compromise in the first place. It would behoove you to
> get antennas and
> > cables as
> > > far from the engine compartment as possible. I have an
> Izusu Trooper
> > (SUV) in
> > > which I run an FT-897 and operate 40M thru 70cm. My
> thing is to run the
> > > cables (RF) RG-400 and/or RG-142. They are fairly low
> loss. I don't know
> > about
> > > using that ultra thin stuff, much power and it seems to
> me that one might
> > have a
> > > fire to contend with. The dielectric of what I use is
> solid Teflon. The
> > > shield is a tightly woven silver washed copper braid.
> These go from the
> > rig back
> > > along the drive shaft tunnel and under the back seat to
> the rear hatch
> > (door
> > > -whatever), up the hinge channel and under the rubber
> gasket to my
> > antennas
> > > which are mounted on some Comet (many degrees of freedom)
> mounts. That
> > rubber
> > > gasket fits over a seam of sorts. I have notched it with
> a rat tail file
> > to
> > > accommodate the coaxes. Leakage is not or at least as of
> yet has not been
> > a
> > > problem.
> > > And, so there might be a little loss. Your mobile
> isn't going to be
> > used
> > > for any sort of competition work anyway so what is a
> little loss here and
> > > there. Look at some of these commercial mobile
> installations, -6 dB is
> > the norm
> > > and acceptable loss in what they call a good
> installation. You probably
> > > won't have all that much even if you use RG-58.
> > >
> > > CU 73, Dave...
> > >
> > > Olde Antenna Lab of Denver
> > > David A. Clingerman, Sc.D. (CEO)
> > >
> > > ----
> > > Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC,
> mobile-portable-owner at mailman.qth.net
> > ----
> > Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC,
> mobile-portable-owner at mailman.qth.net
> >
> > ----
> > Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC,
> mobile-portable-owner at mailman.qth.net
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
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