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howto:stationcoax [2021/07/10 18:30] va7fihowto:stationcoax [2021/07/10 19:18] (current) – [Station Coax and Grounding] va7fi
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 ~~NOTOC~~ ~~NOTOC~~
-====== Station Coax ====== +====== Station Coax and Grounding ====== 
-This is how VA7FI manages his coax runs into the house.  It's meant as an example to help people get startednot as a definitive authority on the subject.  [[va7fi@rbox.me |Feedback is always welcome]].+This is how VA7FI manages his coax runs into the house.  It's meant as an example to help people get started.  I'not an authority on the subject.  [[va7fi@rbox.me |Feedback is always welcome]].
  
 ===== Outside ===== ===== Outside =====
  
-{{  :howto:stationcoax:outside.jpg?400|}} +{{  :howto:stationcoax:outside.jpg?200}} 
-  * LMR400 is used from the antennas to the transition box.+On the coax side:((Click on any of the pictures to zoom in.)) 
 +  * LMR400 is used for most antennas to the transition box.
   * The box shown here is 9"×9"×4½", but I would probably use the next size up if I did it again: there's never enough antennas!   * The box shown here is 9"×9"×4½", but I would probably use the next size up if I did it again: there's never enough antennas!
-  * +  * Two pieces of flattened copper pipe are used as bus bars. 
 +  * The coax from the antennas connect into the [[https://www.dxengineering.com/int/search/part-type/coaxial-lightning-protectors?GroupBy=ProductName&SortBy=BestKeywordMatch&SortOrder=Ascending&keyword=coaxial%20protector |coaxial lightning protectors]]((Coax lightning protectors are also sometimes referred as //Polyphaser//, which is one of the brand names)), which are mounted on the bus bars, which are grounded. 
 +  * From there, RG-8X coax is used to go inside the house. 
 + 
 +On the grounding side: 
 +  * The antennas up the tree are grounded to a ground rod and a ground plate. 
 +  * Those are bonded to the ground plate that connects to the transition box. 
 +  * That is also bonded to the utility ground of the house. 
 +  * And is bounded to a central grounding point inside the house. 
 + 
 +===== Inside ===== 
 +{{  :howto:stationcoax:inside.jpg?400}} 
 +  * The RG-8X from the transition box connects to the back of a patch panel, and the front is labelled with which antenna is connected there. 
 +  * Radios connect to the front of the patch panel, and the patch cords are labelled with the radio. 
 +  * The patch panel is bonded to the transition box outside, and the radios are connected to the patch panel. 
 +The patch panel makes it very easy to swap antennas between radios without ever having to disconnect anything behind the radio itself. 
 + 
 +===== Flow Chart ===== 
 +{{  :howto:stationcoax:flowchart.png  }}
howto/stationcoax.1625967007.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/07/10 18:30 by va7fi