User Manual

Section 2, Microwave Path Engineering Basics TRACER 4205 System Manual
20 © 2002 ADTRAN, Inc. 612804205L1-1A
Table 3 tabulates minimum antenna heights for given path lengths.
7. COAXIAL CABLE
Coaxial cable will be required to attach the TRACER 4205 to the antenna. The length of the cable will vary
from a few feet to several feet, depending upon your application and the proximity of the TRACER 4205
to the antenna.
Various grades of coaxial cable will work sufficiently well for connecting the TRACER 4205 unit to the
antenna. A low-loss coaxial cable is suggested to minimize cable losses. One end of the cable will require
an N-type male connector (plug) to mate with the TRACER 4205 unit. The other end of the coax will
require a connector compatible with the antenna chosen for the installation, which is usually also an N-type
male connector (plug). Additionally, it is recommended that both connectors on the coaxial cable be
weatherproofed from the elements to prevent corrosion and electrical shorting.
Table 3 gives typical loss figures for some of the more common coaxial cable types, per 100 feet
In certain areas where lightning strikes are frequent, a lightning arrestor should be installed directly on the
antenna coax. This will help protect the RF electronics in the downstream path from damaging voltages
and currents, including the TRACER 4205 unit.
Table 3. Minimum Antenna Height for Given Path Lengths
Path Length
(miles)
Min. Antenna Height
(ft)
222
432
641
850
10 60
15 86
20 117
25 153
Table 4. Typical Coaxial Loss for Common Cable Types, per 100ft
Cable Type Cable Loss (dB/ft)
RG-213, RG-214, RG-293 20
1/4” Coax 11.36
3/8” Coax 9.65
1/2” Coax 6.49
5/8” Coax 4.90
RG-58, RG-8 (air, foam) Not Recommended
7/8”, 1 1/4”, 1 5/8” Coax Not Recommended
5.8 GHz Elliptical Waveguide 1.23