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Re: OT: Routing coax near CAT5

Posted by Don Wilhelm-3 on May 26, 2007; 7:09pm
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/OT-Routing-coax-near-CAT5-tp448126p448133.html

Craig,

Theoretically, there should be no radiation outside the coax shield, so
you would not have a problem.

Practically, you may have common mode currents on the outside of your
coax (that is a bad thing), so it would be prudent to install an in-line
isolator (same thing as a 1:1 current balun) at the point where the coax
enters the building.  Provide a ground path for the current to flow - a
good low impedance ground, and connect the antenna side of the isolator
(and coax shield) to the ground.

Lightning protection at the entry point to the dwelling is also prudent
- PolyPhaser or other reliable brand of lightning suppressor devices are
good.  Consider that you may have to defend your choice of protective
devices to your insurance adjuster if you ever have a claim involving
the feedline entry.

73,
Don W3FPR

Craig Rairdin wrote:

> So right now I run the coax from my HF antenna to a point just outside my
> window. When I want to operate I crank open the window and connect the coax
> from my rig to the end of the coax outside the window. I don't really have a
> way to leave it hooked up all the time because I don't want to leave the
> ground-level window partially open.
>
> I want to run the coax into the house through the wall, up the inside of the
> wall into the attic above my office, across the floor of the attic and down
> the inside of a wall to an existing utility box that is where all my phone
> and network connections are routed. This means I'll have coax running
> alongside both phone and CAT5. Seems like a lot of RF.
>
> I'm only running 100W. I suppose someday I might get some kind of amp but
> it's not a priority. But I don't want to rule that out simply because of the
> way I routed my antenna feedline.
>
> I can choose a different routing for the feedline and terminate it in a
> different box that's a few feet away from my CAT5 and phone lines, but I'd
> prefer not to have to install a new box.
>
> So my question is, is all that RF going to interfere with my network
> connection or my phones? Any thoughts or recommendations?
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