jacks

I have a collection of appropriate jumper cables and adapters to deal with the Wi-Fi antenna connector compatibility problem. Most can be easily purchased online. However, I had to machine my own for obscure connectors, such as Metricom/Ricochet radios.

Range extenders (bi-directional amplifiers), DECT repeaters, cell phone repeaters, RF power amplifiers, connector kits that replace a low gain handset/base antenna, coax cable extensions, rooftop antennas, phone patch, Iridium, Inmarsat, Globalstar, etc. Legality varies with location, country and jurisdiction.

Problem is antenna cable (RG213U) length. Connector at the base station is reversed so I have to make a cable with mating connector *or* alter the base station (no-no) to accept a more conventional connector.

RG-213/u is nice coax cable, but I prefer LMR-400. Same outside diameter and less loss. I'm too lazy to check prices, but I seem to recall that LMR-400 is also less expensive.

I usually run my outside antennas with LMR-400 coax cable. However, I do NOT plug the heavy coaxial cable directly in the radio. Instead, I have a short jumper cable between the coaxial cable and the radio to prevent any excessive stresses. Losses from about 1 foot of more flexible cable are easily tolerated. This jumper cable is also where the RP adapters usually live. I sometimes do the same thing on the antenna end, in racks, in automobile installs, where a more flexible transition cable will prevent breaking connectors.

I can't imagine what such heavy and stiff coaxial cable is doing directly attached to a light weight cordless phone base. Are you attempting to dominate the cordless phone spectrum in your neighborhood?

"RG213 vs LMR400"

No idea. The antenna came with RG213U and "the right connectors".

Ah, that's worth knowing. The cable will be in the walls but will need to exit (at a Jbox) and connect to the base unit. Making that sort of a bend AND allowing for the base unit to be removable (disconnectable?) is a tough challenge.

I'll build the handset into the car and let it connect to The House for those cases when I leave the house (or am approaching the house) and need to "tell it" something (or, have it tell ME something: "You left the washing machine on; should I turn it off or will you be right back?"

It's the "narrow & long" pipe to the car contrasted to the short and fat one that is used to deliver video, etc. when "near" the house.

It concentrates on the meaning of words, rather than the mechanics of language.

My wife was primarily a psycholinguist, though she did start off as a linguist.

John Larkin Highland Tech Glen Canyon Design Center Lunatic Fringe Electronics

Some people call a PCB trace a "run."

John Larkin Highland Tech Glen Canyon Design Center Lunatic Fringe Electronics

'Track' is (or was) more common here.

Can be messy, the 'jacks' is quite commonly used in Ireland for what we call a 'khazi'.

We usually say "trace."

I bet "trace" has a lot of meanings too.

We also have pours and planes and sometimes floods.

John Larkin Highland Tech Glen Canyon Design Center Lunatic Fringe Electronics

I think that the term "run" (meaning a trace) descended from when logic signals were carried on wires and PCBs were very crude and small. Think wire wrap boards.

Joe

Do you have indoor plumbing yet?

From the size of the connector and coax cable, my guess(tm) is that your cordless phone and antenna are operating either at 2.4 to 2.45GHz (Wi-Fi or ISM) or on DECT frequencies (about 2GHz).

You might want to check the data sheet for your RG213/u coax cable for the minimum bend radius. This can vary by manufacturer. The rule-of-thumb is nothing less than 10 times the cable OD (outside diameter). For about 0.405 inch outside diameter, that will be about

Assuming you're using N type coax connectors, you can insert a right angle connector to deal with the minimum bend radius problem.

You might also need waterproofing if you use outdoor RF connectors. Adhesive lined shrink tubing works, but is a mess to repair or remove. I just spiral wrap the connector with 1/2" wide Teflon plumbing tape followed by a layer of Scotch 88 "all weather" electrical tape, to hold the Teflon tape in place.

Methinks I'll stop at this point. I have a reputation and license to protect. Posting detailed instructions on how to circumvent FCC rules might attract unwanted attention. Good luck with whatever you're plotting.

"FCC Enforcement Actions"

Already have. It's *huge*. That's what put me off on the idea of running it inside. You'd need a 12" thick wall to comfortably make the bend.

I've been looking into putting the base out in the garage (there is no real need for it to be "conveniently accessible" as it can be accessed via the telco wiring -- and power is almost ubiquitous.

You can get 411 boxes that are a little bigger. But, that's still the wrong approach.

You wouldn't bend the cable in the box. Instead, feed it in directly and use a fitting to make the turn. But, that adds more losses... (keep in mind, you still need a fitting outside the box to transition to the base unit)

Yes. But, it's still less than ideal. It forces the cable to take a certain position in the box, etc.

I don't see anything I am doing as subverting or avoiding regulations. The emissions at the antenna will only be *less* than licensed. And, operating a handset from a moving vehicle is not illegal. Also, ensuring that the link is used for voice (even if computer generated) to steer clear of any such restrictions.

Have a few hams in the neighborhood who've been giving me alternatives. Hence the "use COTS devices" instead of making something "unique" that attracts attention.

Note that I also have cell phones as a long distance pipe -- but, making the connection takes time and you assume the vehicle wants to remain in motion, not stop just to take that call.

It certainly wasn't "all wrong", just irrelevant to the argument. John Larkin has a habit of trying to swing in heavy weight sources where they aren't actually relevant. It's not necessarily malicious - he just doesn't know what he's doing.

The spelling I'm familiar with is "jakes", and that is from old books.

Yes, we do now. Not till we moved when I was 10 though. In our case, it was part of the terrace house at the back but you had to go out of the kitchen door, walk maybe three yards then in the toilet door. Tracing-paper style bogroll too. Izal Medicated.

In some of the houses you still had to walk to the end of the (short) garden.

Nonetheless, think what a massive public health benefit that was.

OK, give us the single Sloman-approved definition of "run."

John Larkin Highland Tech Glen Canyon Design Center Lunatic Fringe Electronics

I had friends and relatives with septic tanks in their back yards. And some grew veggies to eat. No wonder "stomach viruses" were so common back then.

John Larkin Highland Tech Glen Canyon Design Center Lunatic Fringe Electronics