Base Setup Question

[Johnny Relay]

Real silly question here...

I'm considering putting a base antenna on my garage. If I run the coax between the garage and house, what is the typical or best way to make the coax span between the two? I don't really care to have the coax just laying in the yard. Can this stuff be buried? If so, would it best to put it in conduit and get below the frost line?

[busman]

i would guess it better to bury it. maybe use the black type hose thats flexable like that runs from a water meter to the house. or i suppose aluminum conduet would work. i think others on here have done this so maybe they will chime in.

[lonesome 500]

long as it has a u rating.....still be easier hanging

[KI4MSJ]

How about stretching a wire from the house to the garage to support the wieght of the coax and using electrical tape to secure it to the wire. It would be easier than burying it. Just make sure the wire is good and tight so it won't sag. Just a quick thought

[drdx]

I'd bury it in that gray electrical pvc, it's only 1.35 for 10 feet and you're done. Add a few bux for 45 and 90 deg. fittings, and you have an invisible deal, no birds, sun, etc, to worry about. -drdx

[Jester]

Johnny Relay,

An excellent coax for underground usage is some Belden 9913 RG-8 semi-flex low loss. Its about 90 bucks for 100 feet. I bought a roll for my amateur radio station and it is the Cadillac of coax! And it holds up better than any other coax Ive ever used in my 18 years of radio-ing...

However, if you want the Bentley of coax, I'd go with some Times Microwave LMR series or even better, Andrew semiflex RG-8. Be prepared to shell out bux though!

73,

Jester #943
Downers Grove, IL

[Johnny Relay]

I'm liking the burying idea even though its more difficult. Its a straight shot, no bends or turns. It would keep it out of the weather and keep the varmints from causing problems like drdx mentioned. I would think just under the sod surface would be deep enough so there would not be a ton of digging to do. Something my 17 year old son can handle.

[Johnny Relay]

An excellent coax for underground usage is some Belden 9913 RG-8 semi-flex low loss. Its about 90 bucks for 100 feet. I bought a roll for my amateur radio station and it is the Cadillac of coax! And it holds up better than any other coax Ive ever used in my 18 years of radio-ing...

However, if you want the Bentley of coax, I'd go with some Times Microwave LMR series or even better, Andrew semiflex RG-8. Be prepared to shell out bux though!

Good info to know... It's not a far run to make. I have not measured yet but I'm guessing maybe 65 to 75 feet.
Counting the conduit thats not too bad.

[linx]

I've got some RG213U on all my outdoor stuff. It's really heavy duty and you can bury it. It's got an extra jacket on it to bury. Good stuff, but it's not cheap.

[drdx]

I just did an 80 foot run of conduit for a power supply to my hot tub, Just mark your route, angle cut a line with your sharpshooter shovel, go back and angle in towards the original line from a few inches away, sticking the shovel in far enough to reach the original angle's penetration, and the sod will just peel back with a little effort. Keep it wet until you put it all back. I'm not a native ditch digger, but I did my 80 ft run, about 12 inches down because it was a 50 amp service line, and filled it all back in, and after a couple of weeks it is hard to find. I'm about to do the same thing for a run of lmr400 to the base of a tree out in the middle of my yard for a tree wire invisible vertical. I'm guessing I invested 2 hours or so getting my trench to where I could lay the conduit and a couple more covering it up after making the run. For your application, just a few inches down would do. You could just use direct bury coax, but I'd use the conduit for extra protection, so it doesn't accidentally get punctured down the road. Seal it well, the sealer is sold there in the same department, and it is very cheap and quick drying. They also have a big assortment of junction boxes and adapters to do the job right. -drdx

[Jester]

Johnny Relay,

AES (amateur Electronic supply) sells Belden 9913 cable for less than 100$ bucks for a 100ft roll, im pretty sure of that. I bought it from them back in 2003 and its holding up great!

73,

Jester #943
Downers Grove, IL

[Superdave]

Whatever type of coax you use, run it in the grey PVC electrical conduit. If it's in conduit, nobody will damage the cable if they dig into it with a shovel. I'd bury it 12" minimum. If the cable ever has any problem, or you want to add something, the conduit will be there. Use 1" conduit. You'll never fill it, and it's much easier to pull the cable through a larger conduit.

[Mad Bomber]

Another easy way to run the cable through the conduit if you already have it buried, is get some twine, and cut about twice as much as you need to run it through the pipe, then shove it all into the conduit, and use compressed air to blow it through to the other side. Then you can tie the cable to the twine, and pull it through.

[Johnny Relay]

I'm taking notes guys so I don't forget these coax numbers or web sites to check out. Thanks for all the great help and advice thus far. It would also probably help me if I did some reading/learning on coax. I mean the technical aspects.
Until being on the forum to be honest I basically thought coax was just coax. I can see now it's not all the same and a very important part of the antenna system. Can a disconnect be placed at the bottom of the tower without creating problems? Or should I run it up the tower all in one continuous piece to the antenna?