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running antenna wires in a bundle?

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 4:42 pm
by eboe
i'm going to be doing a multi-radio install and i was wondering if it's taboo to run antenna wires right next to each other up the a- or b-pillar. all the antennas need to be on the roof (spaced as best as possible). the radios in question are as follows:

cdm1250, vhf-hi
cdm1250, uhf-t
icom ic208h, dual-band 2M & 440
cobra 75wxst, CB
uniden scanner bc796d, (obviously all bands)

just wanted to know if there is any antenna wiring i should keep away from the rest? i'm thinking maybe keep the 2M ham(~146Mhz) away from the vhf-hi and keep the scanner away from everything? is that ok or not even necessary?

thanks

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:09 pm
by kb0nly
Depends, you have to consider transmit power, coax quality, etc.

If you use a good quality coax with tight shielding you could run them all up the same spot without a problem. The equipment is also a matter though. For example, a scanner with a wide front end won't have the rejection to strong nearby signals that one of your other rigs might have.

The worst i can see happening is the scanner receiving interference when transmitting on one of the other radios.

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 6:13 pm
by Res168cue
I agree with the previous post... In my past expirence I ran a bundle of coax down the C post of my previous truck. This was for multiple TX radios and a couple RX scanners. I never had any problems with interference on the scanners when transmitting on the radios. So you should be good to go!

-Nate

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 5:15 am
by eboe
ok thanks guys. i'm gonna bundle em all up and hopefully no problems. thanks.

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 2:56 pm
by va3wxm
Another thing... as long as your SWR is good you shouldn't have any problems. You'll want to keep all that stray RF off the coax shield!

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 6:27 pm
by eboe
yeah, that's another thing... i'm also in the market for a good swr meter. i saw the other thread about the telewave 44a. i might take the plunge.

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:01 pm
by 007
Just did an install tonight on an Explorer with 3 Antenex NMO's using Teflex coax, running in a bundle down the C pillar. Radios are 110w VHF/UHF X9000's and a 35w 800 Spectra....no issues.