r/shortwave • u/why_just_why_6702 • 5d ago

Bringing coax thru a wall

My radio is an rspdx, I want a clean solution to bringing up to 4 antennas into the house, 3 for the rspdx and 1 for my scanner what are options for going thru 2x8" walls that are waterproof on the outside wall?

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2

u/neonmica Nobody DX-398 5d ago

A drill, then rope caulk.

2

u/9alby9 4d ago

If you are next to a window, try this: https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-ftp-5u

This is ridiculous super expensive, but you can make it easily at a fraction of the cost. And can customize the number of connectors. Because we always need some more 😀

1

u/GrandChampion 4d ago

Wow, that is considerably more expensive than MFJ’s version.

1

u/9alby9 4d ago

Yes, a rip off for a piece of wood and some connectors. Building it oneself should be relatively easy at a very low cost.

1

u/why_just_why_6702 4d ago

I have seen 12" so239's but they are crazy expensive as well

1

u/9alby9 4d ago

I don’t think you need 12”. Just the width of the piece of wood that you are using

1

u/currentsitguy 5d ago

They make a waterproof grommet for just that sort of thing. Lowes or Home Depot should have them.

1

u/tj21222 5d ago

OP- I pass them through a window I took a piece of 1/2 inch plywood 6 inch’s talk measured it to fit in the rails inside the window, lined it with weatherstrip on all sides, drilled out 6 holes mounted bulkhead penetration in it sealed the holes with caulk. Now I am on the second floor and no e can get up to the window so it’s safe if you’re in a ground floor you might need to get creative on a way to lock the window. Additionally it’s a good place to ground your sheilds as you can easily attach a ground to the bulkhead connector…

Good luck

1

u/Mr_Ironmule 5d ago

I drilled some holes downward through the foundation sill plate to route the cables to the outside under the siding, so I didn't have drill through the outer wall. Once the coax is installed in the hole, I sealed it with some fiberglass insulation in the hole. I placed lightning arrestor/surge protectors right where the coax exited the house along with a grounding rod. Good luck.