Antenna/Coax cable question, opinions sought!

[Radioactive]

Ok, I am getting ready to put up a gmrs repeater on my property. I have an antenna tower on my property that's up on a small hill above my garage, where the repeater will be located, but putting the antenna on this tower will: increase the overall height of the antenna by about 30 feet, but to do this it will increase the coax length by about 60 feet to get the run to the garage versus putting it directly beside my garage on a tripod and mast, losing about 30' height but reducing the run of coax by about 60'. So which is the better option, the tower or the tripod/mast. Thanks for your input.

[PastorGary]

HEIGHT IS MIGHT -  Get that antenna as high as you can (Legally - usually 199 feet of tower w/o FAA approval) and use Andrew Hardline in a type that you can afford.

[Logan5]

I concur with Pastor Gary, get as high as possible, if you have feedline length concerns get bigger coax, LMR400 is fine LMR600 or 1/2LDF is even better. You could also consider an outdoor enclosure at the base of the tower. Nothing can make up for the lack of antenna height, in two way radio communications. Best of luck.  Jim...

[Radioactive]

Ok thanks PG and Logan5, I've decided pot get some LMR400 and mount on the top of the tower. An enclosure T the base of the tower isn't really practical as there is n power there and that would involve more than I'm wanting to get into for this project. Thanks again guys.

[gortex2]

I highly recommend you DO NOT use LMR400 for a repeater. Get some hard line. There are lots of info out there on the issues with LMR400 on duplex operations. I have tried it a few times with mixed results. 

[zap]

1/4 inch hard line isn't too terrible in price currently.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rogers4133]

Hello

I only use 1/2 inch hardline for runs up to 100 feet for least amount of loss. Longer then 100 feet i jump to 7/8 inch.

Just adding my 2 cents worth.

 

Jeff

[PastorGary]

Hi, Jeff - I see you finally made it over here to MyGMRS.... Welcome....  (Jeff and I are Moderators at the LAGGROUP Forum)

 

Thanks for your information !!

[deputycrawford]

     If you have to make the long run then go to 7/8 hard line and use short 1/2 hard line jumpers at each end. I would run electrical to the garage and use a much shorter run of 1/2 hard. Putting electric in the garage isn't that hard, very rewarding, and makes the property more valuable if you ever sell. Plus you can use a 50 amp run with a junction box and run many other things to fix a car, lighting, etc. I ran all of that to my garage, including a second run of cable and phone line to mine. Now I can use internet and find repairs for my car, watch the weather come in, and even use it for get togethers when I also added a furnace. Just start with electric and use the shorter line. You may go into using the garage for many other things in the future. If you don't want to do all of that, which is fun and rewarding to do, then run the 7/8 hard with the 1/2 hard jumpers. Get all the height you can get.

[Logan5]

Without question run the electric to the garage. it's easy to do and in the long run has a multitude of side benefits. I ran simple 117 volts to my mothers garage for less than 100 bucks, she says it was the best thing I did after doing some repairs and upgrades over one summer.  Long feedline is gonna cost you on performance, (less propagation) shorter the feedline the better.