Exalt Communications, Inc.
EX-5i Installation & Management
5000005
28
2006-05-17
manufacturer’s authorized tools and connectors for a given transmission line type. The
manufacturers of transmission line typically offer instruction and certification for transmission
line termination, and may also provide videos illustrating the process. There is no amount of
extra care, education, precision and effort that can be overstated for this process.
Once the transmission line is connected to the antenna, traverse the exact route provided by the
site planner. There is often a need for a small excess of transmission line near the antenna to
accommodate both the need for extra slack as the antenna is loosened and moved for the
alignment process, as well as to accommodate a drip loop for the transmission line, and the initial
transmission line securing hardware and grounding near the antenna. In addition, the
transmission line is typically very stiff, and can provide undue pulling force on the antenna
connector. Take care to align the cable with the connector in a manner that does not provide any
torque or strain on the connector.
Consult your transmission line manufacturer for proper transportation, hoisting, securing and
grounding process. Always be very mindful to the entire length of transmission line to assure that
the transmission line is never twisted or kinked or over-bent past the specified bend radius. Once
a transmission line is over-bent or kinked, it will likely never recover its specified characteristics,
even after straightening and will often be completely unusable.
The opposite end of this primary transmission line will typically terminate at the building or
enclosure egress point. This is the location where the RF lightning arrestor shall be located. A
proper termination to the connector-type of the lightning arrestor shall be made at this location.
Once again, a drip loop may be required, and proper securing hardware and grounding needs to
be accommodated.
As soon as practical, the connected ends of the transmission line to the antenna and lightning
arrestor should be weatherproofed, but this process should be delayed as long as possible to be
certain that all systems are working properly before weatherproofing is applied, as once
weatherproofing is applied, you may be required to remove it if any tests or changes are needed
before installation is complete. With this in mind, if the installation is occurring during inclement
weather, extra care must be taken at all times to assure that no moisture enters any connector at
any time. If moisture is suspected to have compromised the antenna or transmission line, it may
render those devices useless without any means for remedy except for full replacement.
It bears mention that on rare occasion, the antenna might be mounted indoors and behind a
window. In these cases, there would not be a need for drip loops or an RF lightning arrestor. In
cases such as these, a very short transmission line can typically be connected directly between
the antenna and the radio mounted nearby. In these cases, the weatherproofing process can also
be omitted.
4.3.3 RF Lightning Arrestor
The purpose of the RF lightning arrestor is to provide a direct path to ground for any lightning
strike that may couple to or directly hit the outdoor transmission system or antenna structure. As
