Ideas for running coax

[Fubar]

I could use some advice and ideas on running 3 coax lines from my shack to my attic. I managed to get an antenna installed on the roof, underneath is a small attic space (which has a couple more antennas) that I was able to drop the feed line into. I had originally planned to try and run the coax through an interior wall that is shared between my shack and the garage, however the stud finder detected there are horizontal support 2x4s that make simply drilling a hole in the header and dropping the cable down impossible. I'm not a drywall guy, so popping open three holes so I can drill through through horizontal 2x4s won't work (plus there is electrical wires in the wall that I'd like to avoid, if not purely for safety but also RFI concerns).

So now I'm thinking I just need to make a hole from the shack into the garage, run the coax up the wall on the garage side and poke a hole into the attic. I'd prefer it didn't look terrible, perhaps some conduit or those plastic cable runner deals. I also need to make sure the hole is somewhat sealed up to reduce CO2 or insects (we have some mean ones here) getting into the shack.

I thought I'd throw this out there to see what you clever folks have done when in this situation.

 

[mmckenna]

That's easy enough to do.
If you really want to get fancy, you can do conduit, but it's likely not needed. Just use a caddy fastener to make a feed through in the sheet rock:

MPLS Low Voltage Metal Single Gang Wall Caddy Fastener

MPLS Low Voltage Metal Single Gang Wall Caddy Fastener

www.newtechindustries.com

Get a blank faceplate and put some female to female connectors through it so you have a nice transition into your shack. Pack the insulation back in and seal around the opening in the garage.

Don't forget to not only ground your antennas, but add a ground buss in your radio room.

 

[Fubar]

That's an awesome idea, I hadn't see those fasteners before. I thought about using a old work gang box, but I couldn't find any that were two sided.

I was just going to pass the cable through the wall, I had read you can take a pretty big hit in dB with each connector.

Also, what do you recommend grounding the buss bar to in the shack? I don't have any kind of pathway from the shack to an outside grounding rod.

Thank you so much for the suggestions!

 

[buddrousa]

I have a 6 foot flexible 3/4 inch drill bit I use in the Security Installs Lowes sells a 54 inch version for $38 that you can drill through the fire stop with drop a chain down fish with a magnet and pull your wires with you may have to drill more than 1 hole depending on the coax.

 

[mmckenna]

That's an awesome idea, I hadn't see those fasteners before. I thought about using a old work gang box, but I couldn't find any that were two sided.

I was just going to pass the cable through the wall, I had read you can take a pretty big hit in dB with each connector.

You can still pass through the wall if that is what you want to do.
Additional connectors add a small amount of loss, like 0.1dB, if you use good connectors. If you use cheap Chinese Amazon connectors, you may see more.

Also, what do you recommend grounding the buss bar to in the shack? I don't have any kind of pathway from the shack to an outside grounding rod.

Thank you so much for the suggestions!

I would make sure it's grounded to the same rod as your antenna system.

 

[JustinWHT]

perhaps some conduit or those plastic cable runner deals

You're thinking of Panduit plastic conduit. The adhesive tape on back will eventually dry out. When I have to use it, I use drywall screws every two feet.

I'd go with PVC water pipe and half round conduit clamps. Don't forget an extra pull string for future cable installs.

 

[JustinWHT]

drop a chain down fish with a magnet

You can use a beaded chain (think ceiling fan) with fishing weight. Follow it with something stronger like paracord.

My go-to fishing chain is ten feet of welded loops chain (first pic), not twisted loops (second pic). I use a 8 inch length of coat hanger with hook on end to pull it out of the wall.

 

[n7dry]

Late to the party as usual, but these make for a nice wall install, easily passing thru multiple wires. Just cut a hole, install a low voltage wall bracket, then put on one of these depending on how many wires you're running.

https://www.amazon.com/VCE-Through-Decorator-Opening-Management/dp/B071X8RLJL/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00193U3O0/?th=1

 

[JustinWHT]

Get a blank faceplate

There are two materials for electrical faceplates. One is fragile hard plastic that fractures when you drill a hole in it. The other is a flexible plastic that is easily drilled out. The Legrand brand comes to mind.

If you don't want to drill holes in walls, you could run white irrigation PVC or grey electric rated PVC on the wall. In Lowe's and Home Depot you can find small Gardner-Bender coax cable clamps in home entertainment section.

I was doing a home improvement install where customer wanted home entertainment cables against a cinder block wall and thought a round PVC would be too obvious. So I cut lengthwise three lengths 2" pipe in half with table saw where only the center one held cable, the other two were equally spaced on the wall for cosmetic reasons to make it look they were part of the wall.

An interior design contractor told me when adding anything... "make it disappear".

 

[consys]

Please do not run coax through the garage wall without going your homework about applicable building codes. For most houses built in our lifetime the garage wall is a required Fire Separation Wall (not a fire wall- there is a difference) with specific requirements for sealing, doors, wiring ect. I recently had had to reseal house wiring there to pass an inspection to sell my home Just a forty year old house, nothing I caused there. For my attic antenna cables, I had routed them via a closet ceiling, I just lived with the coax going under the closet door. I had correct that hole as well. Hoping none of us ever have a garage fire (to late for my neighbor). It would suck to lose you insurance pay out over a coax. Sorry to sound alarmist but I'm a Californian watching the insurance industry use any excuse... if we don't watch our backs they will stab them.