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Fixed Wireless Technology

Running Cables Up a Tower

It's easy to get this wrong. Here's how some WISPs are coping with weather and wear on cables.

[March 13, 2007]

On the ISP-Wireless list in January, CH asked:

I am looking for a clean way to secure multiple RJ45 (shielded) cables up a tower. Any suggestions? Most of the solutions I have seen are for larger fixed size cables, and we may be adding more cables in the future, so I want something expandable. Thanks!

[RY replied] "We routinely run a 25 pair shielded cat 5 up and secure it with UV rated tie wraps. We place a 110 breakout box inside an 8" x 8" box and position this somewhere close to where we are going to put our antennas. Then we run individual cat-5 cables from the breakout box to the radios. You can also secure these with off the shelf cable clamps from Pirod or other suppliers as well."

[MB commented] "If you had a big enough cable you could use the provisions and snap in's. But we just use heavy duty UV rated zip ties and secure them to the tower leg (on the inside)."

[RY replied] "The 25 pair I previously mentioned works well with the snap-ins. The cable is right at 5/8" and works in a 3/4" snap in. You have to squash the snap in prior to placing them around the cable."

[MG said] "Any clamps I've seen do not hold the CAT 5 secure enough and will eventually cut the insulation. Black wire ties work for a while. Frrezing weather and wind will wreck them in a couple years. An old tower hack who has done some work for me cuts a bunch of lengths of solid #8 insulated wire about 9 inches long. After he runs the cables, he runs back down the tower and secures them with his "wire ties" every 4 or 5 feet. He twists them with a pair of pliers, snips the excess, and folds the twists back on the loop. I have never had any problems with his technique. He can do it pretty fast too. Always make sure to "loop" over any sharp point on the tower; this is where the insulation will wear."

[JS agreed] "That's the way we do it as well when cable hangars are not used."

—End