RadioBanter - Ethernet "thicknet" coax thru walls of house for ham radio antenna

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Ethernet "thicknet" coax thru walls of house for ham radio antenna

I think everyone knows that the old "Ethernet" "thicknet" is just
foam RG8U with very good shielding. I was fishing some power
BX cable in the walls/ceilings of the house, and took the opportunity
to also fish some coax for the ham shack upstairs. I figured that
I would use the Ethernet cable I had laying around as it is 50 ohm
coax. And lower loss than RG58. Not that it much matters for
HF for a 20 foot length. But if I wanted to operate 6m or 2m
it would begin to. I have a vertical in the back yard fed by about
15 feet of some rather ancient RG58 that then passes thru a hole
in the house's wall about 2 feet above grade (well sealed with caulking).
And in the basement a few feet in it meets the ethernet I just ran.
This reduced the clutter of coax inside the shack for better spouse
acceptance factor... Used a wall plate intended for phone jacks and
F connectors to make a neat termination for the Ethernet (a BNC
connector). Or if you have one an N barrel.

I don't think any IT guys use Ethernet cable anymore, so maybe
you can ask them to save some for you when they gut the ceilings,
etc at work.

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 03:55:45 GMT, Robert Casey
wrote:

I think everyone knows that the old "Ethernet" "thicknet" is just
foam RG8U with very good shielding. I was fishing some power
BX cable in the walls/ceilings of the house, and took the opportunity
to also fish some coax for the ham shack upstairs. I figured that
I would use the Ethernet cable I had laying around as it is 50 ohm
coax. And lower loss than RG58. Not that it much matters for
HF for a 20 foot length. But if I wanted to operate 6m or 2m
it would begin to. I have a vertical in the back yard fed by about
15 feet of some rather ancient RG58 that then passes thru a hole
in the house's wall about 2 feet above grade (well sealed with caulking).
And in the basement a few feet in it meets the ethernet I just ran.
This reduced the clutter of coax inside the shack for better spouse
acceptance factor... Used a wall plate intended for phone jacks and
F connectors to make a neat termination for the Ethernet (a BNC
connector). Or if you have one an N barrel.

I don't think any IT guys use Ethernet cable anymore, so maybe
you can ask them to save some for you when they gut the ceilings,
etc at work.

Be careful of the power handling capabilities of thicknet coax removed
from service. Be aware also that it has been in place for up to
twenty-five years. You do know how thicknet is accessed don't you? A
hole is drilled in the insulation and braid. A device called a
"vampire tap" is then clamped around the cable. The tap has a probe
that (sometimes!) contacts the center conductor. That can't be good
for the characteristics of the cable when removed, or the
weather-proofing either. Stop being such a damn cheapskate and buy
some good, new coax. It's better for your radios, it's less trouble
for you and you'll do your little bit to help the economy. Oh, yeah,
don't forget to recycle the old 10b2 and 10b5 cabling, that's just
about all it's good for.

Russ, KF4WXD and CCNP

Russ wrote:

Be careful of the power handling capabilities of thicknet coax removed
from service.

I'm not looking to run a kilowatt thru it. And I know that foam coax is
less capable
than solid coax. I'm only running 100W anyway.

Be aware also that it has been in place for up to
twenty-five years. You do know how thicknet is accessed don't you? A
hole is drilled in the insulation and braid. A device called a
"vampire tap" is then clamped around the cable. The tap has a probe
that (sometimes!) contacts the center conductor. That can't be good
for the characteristics of the cable when removed, or the
weather-proofing either.

I'm aware of vampire taps, and the cable I used had none. And the cable
has been indoors
all the time, and in good condition. I used to use it on 2m and it
worked well for that.

Stop being such a damn cheapskate and buy
some good, new coax.

Wouldn't be a true ham, then.... ;-)

Russ, KF4WXD and CCNP

73s