base station setup questions

[Apollo]

I'm wanting to set up a base station in my shed. It's a 12'x16' two story metal building shaped like a barn with a 10' lean2 that runs the 16' lenght of the front of the building. The question I have is where I should mount the antenna. I'm going to get either the Imax-2000 or the A-99. Should I mount the mast to the building or should it be placed away from the building ? Also, what should the mast be made of or better yet, what should not be used to make a mast ? I have quiet a few sticks of heavy walled metal 1.5 inch diameter conduit but I'm not sure if metal can be used. Should the antenna be grounded to the earth or what. Is there any info that I can go read on the internet that will explain what can and shouldn't be done when it comes to mounting a base station antenna ? Thanks for nay help.

[BigBopper]

those are both good antennas, my base is in my shop, and I put the A99 on a pole, attached to the building, the pole is grounded and I talk alot of skip, I used a channel master 30 telescopic pole

[Apollo]

Should I ground the pole to the metal building which is grounded to the earth or should it be isolated from the building ?

[BigBopper]

you can ground to the building

[Apollo]

I have a couple large deep cycle batteries and I was thinking about using one of them or both in parallel for twice the capacity to power my mobile that I'll be using as a base and just putting a trickle charge on them when they get low. Are there any reasons as to why I shouldn't do this ? If need be, I can by a small power supply but I have the batteries already and I'm not using them for anything else. I'll just be running a peaked and tuned Uniden PC78 which on the techs meter has a DK of about 8 watts and swings to 37 watts.

[Rex_foxhound]

That should work fine with a Uniden 78....although I can tell you that it doesn't swing 37 watts. Probably closer to 20.

But the 2 batteries and a trickle charger should work fine.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but you'll only be gettin 12 volts since its just the batteries by themselves. Keep that in mind.

[Apollo]

It wasn't just a standard P&T done on the radio. The tech said that without replacing whatever it was that he replaced that the radio would only swing around 21 watts but after replacing whatever it was, it would swing 35 watts. After the work was done, I watched him hook it up to his meter and do an audio check and it did swing to 37 watts.

[EC 174]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but you'll only be getting 12 volts since its just the batteries by themselves. Keep that in mind.

Depending on the batteries they will produce about 12.50-12.80 without a charger hooked to them.. With a charger you will see up to about 13.70..

The thing about hooking up a radio to a pair of batteries and the charger hooked up is you might get a hum or buzzing sound..

[38Special]

For what it's worth...
I bought a new Pyramid power supply a couple months ago, and what a great unit. It's clean DC, and I believe it's regulated at 13.8v (PX-14) with plenty of power.
I immediately noticed a big differnce between when the radio is in my blazer or on the bench. Most notably, when on the bench the lights are bright, absolutly no induced noise, and it just talks better and recieves better (atho it is on a base antenna then). I can walk away from it and leave it powered for days, and the power supply never gets warm.
You can use batteries but use caution, especially if in a house, because when under charge the batteries give off explosive gasses.

[Apollo]

Can someone recommend a good coax cable to use and where to buy it from ? I have seen the 213 listed on a couple websites but is it really any better than 8x. I've heard that Beldin I believe makes good cable. Where can it been bought from and what would the part number be for the cable I need for my base ?

[Rex_foxhound]

Call Mike at Radioactive Radios.

He carries some of the best coax you can buy. Tell him what you're setup is and he can give you the info on the coax you'll need.

Make sure to mention that you're a cbradiotalk forum member.

[SNAKE BYU1]

Do yourself a favor and dont mess with the batteries just go ahead and get a power supply.
I have been through the battery stag and the charger.
as far as the antenna put your antenna on a mast pipe ground your pipe with a ground rod,ground all your radio equipment and even your shed.
unless that is you want to be stuck in the mud. Just my opion.Peace

[Apollo]

What does it mean when someone says "your hitting my meter with 5 pounds or 5 S units ? Are they referring to the db scale on their meter ?

[EC 174]

What does it mean when someone says "your hitting my meter with 5 pounds or 5 S units ? Are they referring to the db scale on their meter ?

Yes.

[North Texas Mudduck]

I SURE DON'T WANT ANYONE HITTING MY RADIO WITH 5 LBS.
JUST MIGHT LEAVE A DENT