Dave,
It should not be a problem. In fact some of us have used metal cross-booms. Just be careful of where along the boom the cable exits onto the cross-boom. There was a paper written by antenna guru Kent Britain, WA5VJB. I have been given permission to share it via my web site. You can read the results here: http://www.kk0sd.net/metalboom/metalboom.htm
73 and Good Luck, Joe kk0sd
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Dave J Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2014 5:35 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Coax routing question
I am assembling a satellite antenna system using the M2 2MCP22 and 436CP30 circularly polarized antennas with polarity switches and a fiberglass cross arm. The M2 instructions specify the feedline going off the rear of the antennas. Mechanically I would prefer to route the feedline and polarity control up the boom to the cross arm. I plan on mounting the antennas in a cross pattern with no element parallel to the cross arm. Since the RF connectors face the rear I was planning on making a hairpin loop at the rear of the boom or using good quality 90 degree elbows. Just wondering if folks have had experience setting things up this way and what effect (if any) this would have on performance.
Thanks and Happy Holidays
Dave WB9YIG
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