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From: skaggs@nsslsun.gcn.uoknor.edu (Gary Skaggs)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Information Needed About Cellular Antennas
Message-ID: <15563@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 20 Dec 90 14:18:46 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 895, Message 8 of 11


In article <15517@accuvax.nwu.edu> asuvax!godzilla!dalyb@ncar.ucar.edu
(Brian Daly) writes:

>In article <15427@accuvax.nwu.edu>,  srm@dimacs.rutgers.edu (Scott R.
>Myers) writes: 

>> I have read about the cabling 
>> used in antenna installs (RG-58).  Based on what I'm reading, there is 
>> significant signal loss with that type of coax run long distances (ie.  
>> trunk to front passenger side seat.). Would using another guage of 
>> coax reduce the amount of signal loss from the cable?  

>First, let's tackle the dB question:

An excellent discussion of db by Brian deleted ...

Brian metions the use of RG-58A/U cable in the installation.  In fact,
the Larsen 800-900 Mhz antennas use a double copper braid in their
coax.  If you were going to do it yourself, I would recommend Belden
9311.  It has a layer of "Duobond(r) II" (aluminum foil) with a braid
of coax around it.  Its loss is much less compared to standard
RG-58A/U.  My Belden book says: RG-58A/U (Tinned copper braid, 96%
shield coverage) 20.0 db/100ft @900 Mhz.

This is Belden code 8259: RG-58A/U (Duobond, etc, 100% shield) 12.5
db/100ft @900 Mhz.

One caveat: 9311 is cellular polyethylene.  Be careful with heat, do
your soldering hot and FAST.  And don't run it through door seals,
trunk lip seals, etc.  It will compress more easily than standard and
cause an impendance 'bump' at that point.


Gary Skaggs - WB5ULK	skaggs@nssl.gcn.uoknor.edu	DOC/NOAA/ERL/NSSL