routing the coax question?

[coadman]

Finally received my dual antenna cable in the mail yesterday, so today am trying to run the new coax. One mirror already had an old antenna on it, so it was not too much trouble to tie a wire to the existing cable and pull it back through the mirror tubing, then pulling new coax opposite way. Not "too" much trouble, but was a little work, until I lubed the cable up with grease and it made the bends a whole lot easier!

Now, for the fun part, the other mirror assembly had no antenna on it, but probably had one previously as the same access hole was in the mirror end of the tubing as on the other mirror. But, try as I may, I cannot snake a wire through it, down the door column, and snag the wire. Baling wire is too stiff to make the bend from the mirror tubing down the door column, and #16 stranded wire, I cannot get to make the bend to go down, once I did, but it seems like it got hung up around the door hinge area(probably on bolts/rivets). Other attempts, the insulated wire went the wrong direction. So, am looking for some pointers or tips on how to snake the wire up or down from the mirror tubing through the door column. Any ideas????

[bigcountry30]

Originally Posted by coadman

Finally received my dual antenna cable in the mail yesterday, so today am trying to run the new coax. One mirror already had an old antenna on it, so it was not too much trouble to tie a wire to the existing cable and pull it back through the mirror tubing, then pulling new coax opposite way. Not "too" much trouble, but was a little work, until I lubed the cable up with grease and it made the bends a whole lot easier!

Now, for the fun part, the other mirror assembly had no antenna on it, but probably had one previously as the same access hole was in the mirror end of the tubing as on the other mirror. But, try as I may, I cannot snake a wire through it, down the door column, and snag the wire. Baling wire is too stiff to make the bend from the mirror tubing down the door column, and #16 stranded wire, I cannot get to make the bend to go down, once I did, but it seems like it got hung up around the door hinge area(probably on bolts/rivets). Other attempts, the insulated wire went the wrong direction. So, am looking for some pointers or tips on how to snake the wire up or down from the mirror tubing through the door column. Any ideas????

Running a dual antenna setup is far less effective than a single antenna. get a good single antenna and good coax like rg213, and get the swr's set real low ( below 1.3 acroos the board and you will out-talk and hear far better and farther than a dual setup. A dual antenna setup is almost impossible to get as good as a single.

[coadman]

Originally Posted by bigcountry30

Running a dual antenna setup is far less effective than a single antenna. get a good single antenna and good coax like rg213, and get the swr's set real low ( below 1.3 acroos the board and you will out-talk and hear far better and farther than a dual setup. A dual antenna setup is almost impossible to get as good as a single.

Quite possibly true, but regardless, the antennas came with the radio my son purchased and I just purchased new coax to use with these antennas, so I am going to use these antennas. I just need to get the cable routed. Thanks for trying to help.
coadman

[bigcountry30]

Originally Posted by coadman

Quite possibly true, but regardless, the antennas came with the radio my son purchased and I just purchased new coax to use with these antennas, so I am going to use these antennas. I just need to get the cable routed. Thanks for trying to help.
coadman

No problem i tried. LOL. What type of truck is it? Different ones require different strategies. I'll help as much as i can. i have had to do several.

[Powder Joints]

Originally Posted by bigcountry30

Running a dual antenna setup is far less effective than a single antenna. get a good single antenna and good coax like rg213, and get the swr's set real low ( below 1.3 acroos the board and you will out-talk and hear far better and farther than a dual setup. A dual antenna setup is almost impossible to get as good as a single.

It all depends on application, with my double tanker a single out performs the orginal mirror co-phased antennas on rx and tx. But when I pull 14' high vans the co phased mirror mount antennas as superior. The trailers that are tall block a considerable area behind and oppsite to the antenna ausing a very large dead zone, the properly co-phased antenna picks up this area. when tunng the phased antennas tthey must be tuned one at a time not using the phasng harness, but using a single run of coax such as Rg8,Rg58,Rg213 or Rg214. The phasing harness is 75 ohm not 52 ohm. If you tune them separately to say 1.5 to when you onnect hte 75 ohm harness your match should be about 1.3 to 1.4,

As far as snaking the cable do not use grease it can cause a cap like reaction, use wire pulling lube, also use a speedometer cable for a snake. Speedo cable are flexible and easily controlled, bend the tip just slightly and spin it as you go thru the corners it should go right thru.

On a pickup or standard auto I would agree that a single antenna offer far superior performance. Oh yea, yes the conector center pin needs to be soldered to properly conduct the rf.

[coadman]

Got the job done! Ended up using fishing line and some cotton balls from my wifes bathroom. (lol) Tied the fishing line to the cotton balls, stuck them down the mirror tubing with a wire until it reached the upper door channel. Stuck an air hose on the hole in the mirror tubing and put the air too it. Took a couple of tries, but the fishing line spooled out into the hole. Had to fish it out with a wire hook on the other end(it didnt drop all the way down), but got the job done! Well, not completly done, I can't find my old SWR meter I used to have, so havent checked the antennas. It will talk and receive, but probably not at peak efficiency. Don't know what happened to my old SWR meters, as I had two, but havent used them for about 30 years!(lol) Thanks for the advice.
coadman