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Call Sign : 26-CT-4392 Posts : 8 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2022-01-05 QTH or Location : Medway Equipment Used : Radio
Subject: Coax for HT DIY antenna Sun Jan 09, 2022 11:39 am
Hello all,
I have experimented with making feeder lines and antenna for a scanner with some success. Now I want to go further with my new HT on UHF. Finding it surprisingly hard to source decent coax in the UK. High Street retailers sell rubbish, eBay let me down with poor sheilded RG58, (even had stranded core, what's that about!) So where do you source decent RG58 or better? I have an eye on a Bazooka antenna design on YouTube that I want to attempt. Many thanks and 73 Rufus CT4392.
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2637 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 for HT DIY antenna Sun Jan 09, 2022 1:09 pm
Have a look for "RG8X" coax. Not the best there is but good enough for me. I do have some 213 on my vhf/uhf antenna but i find it hard to work with.
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: Coax for HT DIY antenna Sun Jan 09, 2022 1:46 pm
Mini-8 (RG8X) is a good compromise. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274895504222
Wireless Major contributor
Posts : 350 Times Thanked : 12 Join date : 2021-11-19 QTH or Location : Shrewsbury Equipment Used : kit
Subject: Re: Coax for HT DIY antenna Sun Jan 09, 2022 2:02 pm
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Last edited by Wireless on Wed Aug 17, 2022 10:23 am; edited 1 time in total
Rufus1969 New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4392 Posts : 8 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2022-01-05 QTH or Location : Medway Equipment Used : Radio
Subject: Re: Coax for HT DIY antenna Sun Jan 09, 2022 9:19 pm
Thanks guys for all the advice.
43CT016 Major contributor
Call Sign : 43-CT-016 Posts : 368 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 for HT DIY antenna Mon Jan 10, 2022 1:52 am
Just buy it from a decent vendor, and use coax from a known manufacturer. Avoid eBay like the plague, and make sure CB shops are not just buying it from cheap Chinese disties then selling for a price you could get decent stuff for.
A HAM shop like Martin Lynch or Waters & Stanton would be a safe bet, but don't get sucked in to buying more than you need as it's just for a radiating element! Good, known brand, RG58 is fine for a Bazooka, but for UHF feedline, I start at LMR400 if I have any distance to cover.
Good coax is surprisingly cheap when you don't need much of it.
Telstar New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-3520. Foundation & Intermediate Ham Posts : 48 Times Thanked : 0 Join date : 2020-05-04 QTH or Location : Telford, Shropshire Equipment Used : Uniden 200. SS6900N, Yaesu FT8900, Alinco DX77E, Alinco DX70
Subject: Re: Coax for HT DIY antenna Sat Mar 19, 2022 4:38 pm
Just a thought, Knights CB www.kcb.co.uk do some decent RG58 Military spec at a good price and its decent coax.
Today at 10:01 am by teapot
Subject: Coax for HT DIY antenna 
