LORAN Coaxial Cable for Cellular?

[capngeo]

I have a disused Coaxial cable (RG-8) going up to the top of the mast for an old LORAN receiver. Can I use that cable (not antenna) for my cellular repeater?

It terminates at the top of the mast in a PL-259, which I'll have to change out to whatever the cell antenna has. I wonder if the loss from length exceeds the gain from height?

[SoonerSailor]

You'll see huge losses at cellular frequencies with just about any coax you would care to run up a mast. Loran was very low frequency, and losses were negligible even with otherwise lossy coax.

However, the extra height might overcome some of this. Anyone have experience here?

[Lancerbye]

I have the same thing which was used for Differential Beacon for the old GPS. It is using an RG-8 cable also. I have been thinking of doing the same thing to setup a wireless antenna for longer distance use.

[capngeo]

Originally Posted by Lancerbye

I have the same thing which was used for Differential Beacon for the old GPS. It is using an RG-8 cable also. I have been thinking of doing the same thing to setup a wireless antenna for longer distance use.

So which one of us is going to be the Guinea Pig and give it a go?

[pteron]

Which cellular repeater?

[capngeo]

Looking at the Wilsons. Haven't settled on a model, but probably a 3 watt multi-user unit

[pteron]

That appears to send the cellular frequencies up the cable, so you definitely need to know the loss characteristics of the coax that was used for the Loran. RG8U is about 7dB/100ft loss which is probably acceptable (unless you have a very tall mast!) as the repeaters claim a gain boost of 40dB.

Does the Loran cable have a designator on it?