Fiberglass Antenna Extreme Cold Weather

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deb4523

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Alaska, USA
Hi Guys,

I am looking at installing a signal booster on a building for improved cell phone signal inside the building. The system the end users would like to have installed has an antenna with a low temperature rating of -22F. Our winter temperatures regularly get into the -50's F. When I spoke with a company rep on the hone they thought the reason for the low temperature rating might be the fact that it is made with fiberglass and may be brittle at colder temperatures.

Is there any other reason why an antenna would not work in cold temperatures?

The only other appropriate system I found had an antenna rating of -40F, so better, but still not at our normal specs.

I can't see a fiberglass antenna exploding at cold temperatures, but I could see it warping or possibly shattering with wind or if it were hit with something. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks,
Debbie
 
Dunno. If you asked this question here first I would tell you to talk to the manufacturer. But you already got advice from the manufacturer who should know their product and you come here asking us to second guess.

Listen to what the manufacturer told you.

-Hal
 
Hal - The rep I spoke to with the manufacturer was not sure what was setting the low temperature limit and took a guess at the fiberglass construction.

Without a better/more confident answer from the rep, I thought I would ask here and see if anyone had any experience with this.
 
If you look at specs for various fiberglass products, the low temp limit is commonly -30C. Which is -22F. My guess is that what the rep is telling you is correct.

You may need to source a specialty manufacturer for super low temp applications.
 
So no reason why the antennas themselves would not work at cold temperatures? I believe the fiberglass is just a cover.

FYI, I am looking at the SureCall SC-288W Outdoor Omni Antenna (fiberglass) and the Wilson 304422 Omni Plus Antenna (PVC).

(Again, the rep I spoke to could not answer this question..)
 
180718-0959 EDT

deb4523:

The temperature rating is likely a materials problem rather than electrical.

Thus, the materials chosen must be suitable for the temperature range, and fatigue over some temperature cycling range.

Some form of fiberglass may/will be satisfactory, but will depend upon the actual materials used, and definition of what fiberglass is.

Many earth satellites take a little over a hour to circle the earth. Their temperature will vary from very cold to hot every orbit. This is sever cycling on the materials. There are materials that can do this job.

.
 
It is not that the antenna itself will shatter on its own, but that the extreme tempe

It is not that the antenna itself will shatter on its own, but that the extreme tempe

deb4523 said:
Hi Guys,

I am looking at installing a signal booster on a building for improved cell phone signal inside the building. The system the end users would like to have installed has an antenna with a low temperature rating of -22F. Our winter temperatures regularly get into the -50's F. When I spoke with a company rep on the hone they thought the reason for the low temperature rating might be the fact that it is made with fiberglass and may be brittle at colder temperatures.

Is there any other reason why an antenna would not work in cold temperatures?

The only other appropriate system I found had an antenna rating of -40F, so better, but still not at our normal specs.

I can't see a fiberglass antenna exploding at cold temperatures, but I could see it warping or possibly shattering with wind or if it were hit with something. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks,
Debbie
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The fiberglass shatters from certain wind gusts, snow or hail stones, etc, or stuff blown by the wind, easier below certain temperatures. I have not been to Alaska since I was ten, so I don’t remember the exact temperatures but remember most guys using the military 104 whips on their cbs then
 
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