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5.5 Mounting of Separate Antennas
Tower or mast mounting of the antenna should proceed according to the antenna
manufacturer’s guidelines.
For interfacing to the Solectek radio, the following should be considered:
•
To minimize loss, only short lengths of high quality, LMR-400 (or equivalent) RF coax
cables should be used.
•
For Master unit radios, there are no requirements to connect specific radio ports to
specific polarizations on the antenna. Solectek’s MIMO system will auto-adjust to
accommodate the chosen configuration.
Weatherproofing Ethernet and/or antenna connections is essential. This process prevents water
from entering the chassis or cables through the connectors.
In order to provide an adequate seal, it is advisable to apply three wrappings:
1. electrical tape
2. sealant (such as the butyl mastic which is provided with the product)
3. electrical tape
The first wrapping of tape should be a single layer, followed by a generous wrap of butyl
mastic. Finally, apply two layers of electrical tape, completely covering the mastic layer. Wrap
the last layer of tape such that water is always directed down and away from connections.
5.6 GPS Antenna Mounting
An external GPS antenna is supplied in the package. It comes with a mounting bracket with
hose clamps and cable.
An example of antenna mounting is shown in the picture below:
