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Re: [TowerTalk] Routing cables under buried radials

To: Ignacy Misztal <no9e@arrl.net>, "tower and HF Antenna Construction Topics." <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Routing cables under buried radials
From: Ken Alker <ka6ken@alker.net>
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2022 11:03:34 -0800
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
If you decide to do option #1, there is a company in Santa Barbara that I hired once that owns a "pig" or "torpedo" or "mole" (pneumatic-powered long slender hammering device that look like a giant bullet) they use to bore horizontal holes underground. You did not state how far you need to go, and I'm not sure how far they can bore, but this is likely an option. First they dig a hole in the ground that is probably five or six feet long and couple of feet wide. Depth depends on how far you want your conduit submerged. Then they drop their boring device into the hole and they hook an air compressor up to it and it starts pounding its way across your yard. I believe I paid about $1000 to get this done and it took an afternoon to go maybe 60' under a very large patio. That said, it was for a non-profit, so I may have been given a pretty good deal. I also knew the contractor. That said, if you can locate a company like this in your town (they often work for the cable company or ISP or telco or electric company or gas company laying fiber, pipes, etc.) that might want some weekend work then maybe you can strike a deal that is within your budget. Keep in mind that it will break things in its path like irrigation lines.

Ken

--On Wednesday, February 23, 2022 1:19 PM -0500 Ignacy Misztal <no9e@arrl.net> wrote:

I have a 100 ft tower that is surrounded by 36 100 ft radials and 4 x 20
50 radials. Coax and rotor cable are buried. The area is planted with
grass.

I would like to add more radials but a question is what to do if
additional cables are needed past the radial field, e.g., for additional
towers.

Here are a few options.

1. Try to put a 4 inch PVC pipe below the radials. Lots of work.

2. Remove or cut radials, bury a PVC pipe and then solder the radials.
Less work but soldering back critical

3. Just put cables on top. After 1-2 years they will migrate underground.
Not sure if a riding mower, or a truck (to install a new tower) can do
damage. Or enough damage creating intermittents, e.g.,  with OM8000
amplifiers (if purchased).

4. Bury 2-3 cables under the radials and use Green Heron stuff for WiFi
switching, including remote rotor controllers.

5. Route additional cables around the radial field with better coax to
compensate for extra length.

6. ???

Ignacy NO9E
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