Source for 4-conductor antenna rotator cable?

[aemeijers]

Subject says it all, almost. Checked the local Borgs- they don't even carry twinlead any more, much less 4-conductor outdoor-rated ribbon cable. One place had crappy rather overpriced 3-conductor cable from China, in small coils, which is apparently the modern standard. I could fake it with 2 runs of outdoor-rated landscape light zip wire, but that would look crude. I looked online, but didn't find 4-conductor. When I was a kid, every hardware store had a big reel of it, and you bought how much you needed.

I'm trying to do a low-buck backup TV signal source, and with stations in 3 major directions, I have to repoint antenna to feed my converter box. I was all set to buy a flying-saucer omni antenna, but tripped across (literally) this rotor and control box for 2 bucks at a garage sale. It works (on the ground at least), but the cable is too short for my roof, and in pretty nasty shape.

Rotor box says 'colormaster lc100a' on it. Looks to be a clone of the channel master my family had when I was a kid.

Anybody know if all 4 wires are really needed, or can I combine 2 of them?

-- aem sends...

[Colbyt]

It has been a long time and I do not know if all 4 are needed.

Radio Shack has this 3 wire cable:

Happy shopping.

Colbyt

[Ralph Mowery]

Look here for the wire:

It is $ .24 per foot for 100 feet or more. Product number 308. It has 4 number 20 wires.

I have not seen an TV that has a 300 ohm twinlead hookup in years. That is probably why you did not see it in the stores. With the switch to digital, I doubt any tv or converter will have the need for the twinlead. Maybe a few rare cases.

[Bob F]

How about sprinkler cable? Often found near the sprinkler heads, etc inb the plumbing dept. Available with different # of conductors.

[BQ340]

I have been using 4-conductor telephone line on mine for the past 13 years with no problems.

MikeB

[EXT]

Use "thermostat" cable.

[mm]

Twist them around each other every six inches or so and they won't spearate and you can tell people it's frappage or domage or whatever they call artwork with ropes. Or you can say it's to prevent induction of voltages due to lighting strikes. Like they run twisted pairs for burglar alarm sensor wires (because they are long runs I think) and they twist twin lead.

I used phone line for my burglar alarm sensor wires and after about 18 years, my control panel smoked to death. But I don't know why.

Or use teleophone wire like BQ says.

[KC]

You need all 4 wires - 2 for the syncro & 2 for the power. Radio Shack has what you are asking for:

?productId=3D2049618 KC

[aemeijers]

Thanks, all- if I get motivated this weekend, I'll try phone cable. I happen to have a partial box of cat3 sitting in the basement that I bought for a couple bucks at a garage sale a couple of years ago. I can unreel 25 feet or so, and try a smoke test on the ground before I string it. I guess if it acts unhappy, I can always do 2 runs, and double up the conductors.

Did I mention I'm trying to do this on the cheap? (Just on general principles- I can afford a new one, but doing it for next to nothing would please my inner cheap SOB, and honor the memory of my late EE grandfather, who was also a cheap SOB.)

Now all I need to scrounge is a short stick of mast and a couple of U bolts....

-- aem sends....

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, Two things come to mind. 4 or 6 wire thermostat hook up cable or a pair of twisted pair cable.

[mm]

Motors don't use much current, but I don't know how much or the gauge of Cat-3. Frankly, if the gauge is too low, the voltage available at the motor will be too low and the motor won't turn fast enough. So pay attention to that. If it doesn't turn at all, I guess the motor can overheat and burn out. All the energy that would go into motion will turn into heat, plus whatever heat it would normally have in the motor. That second part shouldn't be much when they only run for less than a minute, right. Ten or 20 seconds?

It seems to me there is no way you will burn out the wire you are about to use, or almost any wire, because the excess heat will be distributed along 20 plus feet. It won't even get warm to the touch.

That's important. I agree with you. And your father would be proud.

And I'd rather be cheap and never run out of money.