Thread: GSM Duplexer, ??

Originally Posted by Tank

Does anyone know what a Telstra Mobile phone tower GSM Duplexer is made of, the metal that is, it is extremely heavy for it's size, it is non ferrous, is shiny and looks like aluminium with a gold tinge to it, would appreciate any help, will post a pic later, Regards Frank.

Photos added, Regards Frank.

Why do you have one of those?! Council pickup find?

Depending on what you want to do with it from here on in, there is a number of destructive and non destructive tests you can do. You seem to be on the right track so far. But depends on how badly you need to know.

Does it have an oxide layer, or a coating of some description?
By 'non ferrous' do you mean to say that it is non magnetic? (high amounts of iron, nickel or cobalt are magnetic, so being magnetic does not mean that it is made only of iron).
Is the gold coating easily removed - some electronics components use a insulating oil, which could still be present

It looks like aluminium to me, but my guess is as good as anyone elses from this end of the computer screen.

It is from a Telstra mobile phone tower control unit, there are 5 cabinets with all of this electrical and computer equipment all set up in a building at the base of the tower.
I buy and sell scrap as well as road and off road recovery, I have a business with my son and a 9 tonne tilt truck with a 5 ton Hiab crane. Telstra contacted us to remove the equipment as they change everything as technology advances, none of the workmen knew what was in these control cabinets. I need to know what type of metal it is.
It is much too heavy to be aluminium, that block of metal weighs at least 30lbs., there are a lot of Diode coolers made from Beryllium Oxide, which is toxic in powder/dust form.
From what I have been told this duplexer allows the antennae to receive and transmit signals at the same time, the metal is highly polished extremely well machined, but so much harder and heavier than aluminium. It doesn't seem to be anodised or have any coating, a file will mark it, but no where as easily as aluminium and it is the same colour below the surface, it gives a ringing sound if tapped.
Any Ideas on how to identify this metal would be appreciated, BTW the photo, because of the flash doesn't show the correct colour, it is more like a very, very pale gold sheen, Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by Toxic_Avenger

Why do you have one of those?! Council pickup find?

Depending on what you want to do with it from here on in, there is a number of destructive and non destructive tests you can do. You seem to be on the right track so far. But depends on how badly you need to know.

Does it have an oxide layer, or a coating of some description?
By 'non ferrous' do you mean to say that it is non magnetic? (high amounts of iron, nickel or cobalt are magnetic, so being magnetic does not mean that it is made only of iron).
Is the gold coating easily removed - some electronics components use a insulating oil, which could still be present

It looks like aluminium to me, but my guess is as good as anyone elses from this end of the computer screen.

Passivated nickel plating on steel? Try a magnet.

Non Magnetic Ron, I am leaning towards Brass with nickel plating, the jury is still out, Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by p38arover

Passivated nickel plating on steel? Try a magnet.

The construction suggests that it is designed as a heat sink. If so it could well be copper rather than brass. Couple of things worth doing:

• Scratch the surface to determine if it is plated, and if so the colour of the underlying metal.
• Measure the object's weight and volume (use water displacement to do this) and thus determine its density.

With colour and density you should be well on the way to a fair guess.

Cheers
KarlB

15kg for a lump of aluminium that size sounds fair.

sure looks like ally to me.

Have you tried goggling the subject I just did out of curisioty there is some info that may give you a clue.

Hodgo