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Telemetry & Networking
Antennas, Cables & Lightning Protection
Rugged antennas fabricated of lightweight, high-strength aluminum alloys — every model designed to survive 100 mph winds. The 5050ANT omni is standard in HydroLynx packaged gauges; high-gain omnis suit central-site and repeater receive duty, and directionals close marginal paths. Match them with the right cable run and a coaxial lightning arrestor.
Antenna selection
| Model | Type | Gain | Length | Horiz. beam | Connector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5050ANT | Omni (VHF/UHF) | 0 dB | 2 ft | 360° | UHF(F) |
| 5050A | Omni (VHF/UHF) | 3 dB | 2 ft | 360° | UHF(F) |
| 5050MBX-150 | VHF Omni | 3 dB | 9.2 ft | 360° | UHF(F) |
| DB224 | VHF Omni | 6 dB | 20 ft | 360° | N(M) |
| DB230 | VHF Directional | 7 dB | 3.5 ft | 76° | N(M) |
| DB408 | UHF Omni | 6.6 dB | 9.5 ft | 360° | N(M) |
| DB420 | UHF Omni | 9.5 dB | 18 ft | 360° | N(M) |
| DB436 | UHF Directional | 10 dB | 3 ft | 40° | N(M) |
| SAM-160 | VHF Directional | 10 dB | 4.5 ft | 60° | N(F) |
DB224, DB408 and DB420 antennas ship with clamps for top mounting; heavy-duty side-mount kits (DB5001 for DB224, DB5012 for DB408/DB420) mount to a tower leg, and DB365W brackets a wall or wooden pole. When using a directional antenna to receive, consider its horizontal beam width in your radio path study to ensure consistent reception.
Antenna cables
Cable choice comes down to run length and acceptable signal loss: use RG8 up to 60 ft, ½-inch foam up to 250 ft, and ⅞-inch foam beyond that.
Cables for packaged gauges are designated by adding “C” to the package model (e.g. 5054C) — standard assemblies are RG8 with BNC male and PL-259 male connectors. For packages with lightning arrestors add “LA” (e.g. 5054C-LA); the cable divides in two with N-type male connectors added. Custom RG8 cables are designated CRG8-connector/connector with BNC, PL-259, N-male and N-female connectors available.
Foam cable is supplied in bulk by the foot with its connector set ordered separately; because it is very stiff, excess is trimmed at installation and an RG8 pigtail gives a smooth transition to the radio package.
Lightning protection 5050LA
Broadband VHF/UHF coaxial lightning protection rated 50 kA (ANSI C62.1 8/20 waveform, 500 J), with N-type female connectors, 2.5 ns turn-on, VSWR under 1.1:1 and insertion loss under 0.1 dB across the band. Recommended for every antenna feed. Datasheet (PDF) →
| Run length | Cable |
|---|---|
| Up to 60 ft | RG8 |
| Up to 250 ft | ½ in. foam |
| Over 250 ft | ⅞ in. foam |
Ordering information
| Order | Description |
|---|---|
| 5050LA | Antenna Lightning Protection |
| DB5001 | Side Mount Kit for DB224 |
| DB5012 | Side Mount Kit for DB408 and DB420 |
| DB365W | Wall or Wooden Pole Mounting Bracket |
| CRG8-BNC/PL | RG8 assembly, BNC male to PL-259 male (standard) |
| CRG8-A | Additional RG8 cable, per foot |
| C1/2F | ½ in. foam cable, per foot |
| C1/2-CS | ½ in. foam connector set |
| CRG8-NM/NF | RG8 pigtail, N male to N female |