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Call Sign : 26-CT-4301 Posts : 7 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2021-10-23 QTH or Location : Blandford Forum Equipment Used : CRT 6900 Maycom AH27
Subject: coax advice please Sun Nov 21, 2021 9:22 am
Hi can I just ask everyone's advice on coax please? Which do you feel is better RG213 or RG8XX and which would you use for an over 100 feet run? Thanks
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2649 Times Thanked : 70 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7610,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 16
Subject: Re: coax advice please Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:02 am
I use both but i find RG213 a bit of overkill as my longest run is around 25ft. RG8X is not bad i think but not sure on that length what the loss would be. Also the 213 is hard to get round corners. Somebody with better knowledge on this will be along soon i would think.
Victor and Damien2 like this post
Damien2 New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4301 Posts : 7 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2021-10-23 QTH or Location : Blandford Forum Equipment Used : CRT 6900 Maycom AH27
Subject: Re: coax advice please Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:15 am
Thanks Alan, that's helpful Daz
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2649 Times Thanked : 70 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7610,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 16
Subject: Re: coax advice please Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:29 am
Just thinking about it. 100ft ??? i think i would still use RG8x 100mtr then 213. But that's just me and i don't try for absolute perfection but some try there best i am just happy if i can get out and receive. 28ft of RG8x on my cobweb antenna mounted at 13ft and i get to the US Canada Japan on ft-8 with 10w so will do for me.
Damien2 likes this post
43CT016 Major contributor
Call Sign : 43-CT-016 Posts : 369 Times Thanked : 22 Join date : 2019-11-17 QTH or Location : Perth Equipment Used : iCom IC-7610/IC-9700/IC-705 Age : 55
Subject: Re: coax advice please Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:31 am
Well, 8x has almost twice the loss of 213, and at CB frequencies and only a 100’ run, we’re talking 1dB vs 2dB.
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 6287 Times Thanked : 389 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
Subject: Re: coax advice please Sun Nov 21, 2021 12:04 pm
Short runs - Pretty much anything would do as it becomes negligible.
Long runs - The best coax you can afford!
I wouldn't install 213 in a mobile fitting scenario but similarly wouldn't use 'cheap' coax to run up a tower.
(Having an upstairs radio room with antennas in the loft, so runs less than 15 - 20ft, I use good TV coax successfully. )
Just a case of choosing the right coax for the job especially as it's the most important aspect of any radio setup, i.e. the whole antenna system. The best radio in the world is rendered useless with a poor antenna system.
But, if 8x is what you can budget for or handle on installation then don't let it stop you. Getting on air can be the most important thing for some - but you won't half kick yourself if you decide to 'upgrade' coax later.
As Alan has pointed out he uses short runs so no problem and Jeff, (43CT016), rightly points out losses. That 3db reference is indeed half your output power but also equates to losses on receive too!!!
Some good advice already given but I would stress that the 'whole' antenna system is the most important thing to successfully be on air.
All the best, Victor
teapot, Damien2 and Bloodhound like this post
Damien2 New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4301 Posts : 7 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2021-10-23 QTH or Location : Blandford Forum Equipment Used : CRT 6900 Maycom AH27
Subject: Re: coax advice please Sun Nov 21, 2021 12:19 pm
i found your comments about tv coax interesting , because i also want to put a radio set up in an upstairs room , thanks victor
Damien2 New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4301 Posts : 7 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2021-10-23 QTH or Location : Blandford Forum Equipment Used : CRT 6900 Maycom AH27
Subject: Re: coax advice please Sun Nov 21, 2021 12:28 pm
thanks for replying , im the same ,not looking for the ultimate set up . Just something that will work lol , is your cobweb antenna homebrew or retail ? cheers daz
Damien2 New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4301 Posts : 7 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2021-10-23 QTH or Location : Blandford Forum Equipment Used : CRT 6900 Maycom AH27
Subject: Re: coax advice please Sun Nov 21, 2021 12:33 pm
thanks for reply to post , and for the link , cheers daz , stay safe and many thanks to everyone
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2649 Times Thanked : 70 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7610,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 16
Subject: Re: coax advice please Sun Nov 21, 2021 1:39 pm
Bought the cobweb from a guy in Poland. He sell's on eBay. Good quality and works very well i think at only 13ft off the ground.
Ivy Mike Major contributor
Call Sign : 26CT4113/G1HWY Posts : 535 Times Thanked : 15 Join date : 2021-05-16 QTH or Location : IO90uv Equipment Used : ICOM radios/antenna farm Age : 69
Subject: Re: coax advice please Sun Nov 21, 2021 7:58 pm
Alan Pilot wrote:
I use both but i find RG213 a bit of overkill as my longest run is around 25ft. RG8X is not bad i think but not sure on that length what the loss would be. Also the 213 is hard to get round corners. Somebody with better knowledge on this will be along soon i would think.
I have gone over to M&P Ultraflex 10, bit overkill as well but it bends so easy. Much better than Westflex or 213 and it can be used around rotators.
I have some Hyperflex 13 as well that is going to replace Westflex on a 25metre run up the mast to the Logperiodic, this should get rid of two joints as this can go round rotors as well.
006ER New Member
Posts : 2 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2024-01-31 QTH or Location : Spokane Equipment Used : Stryker 955
Subject: Rg8-xx Wed Jan 31, 2024 5:34 pm
You guys are confusing RG8x with RG8-XX (Super mini has the same specs as rg213