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Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 364 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-25 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, midland alan 78 plus multi + mag mount , silver rod Age : 64
Subject: coax for the antenna Tue Mar 21, 2023 3:38 pm
Hi what is the best coax to use with a silver rod for good performance is it the 8x thanks
13oots2 Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4694, M7EUS Posts : 236 Times Thanked : 15 Join date : 2022-11-13 QTH or Location : Dorchester UK Equipment Used : Yaesu FT950, 66FT Endfed Antenna, Various Other Bits and Pieces Age : 57
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Tue Mar 21, 2023 3:46 pm
It all depends on the length of your run, if it is a short length a good quality RG58 would be fine.
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 364 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-25 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, midland alan 78 plus multi + mag mount , silver rod Age : 64
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Tue Mar 21, 2023 9:43 pm
Hi 1300ts2 the length of coax im running is 8 metres and im using rg 58 at the moment and the performance is up and down thats why i was thinking of using the thicker stuff
13oots2 Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4694, M7EUS Posts : 236 Times Thanked : 15 Join date : 2022-11-13 QTH or Location : Dorchester UK Equipment Used : Yaesu FT950, 66FT Endfed Antenna, Various Other Bits and Pieces Age : 57
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Tue Mar 21, 2023 10:42 pm
There are coax loss calculators available online, I did a quick search, and it threw up quite a few. Might be worth using one and punching in a few numbers.
RG213 might be an option, but it quickly gets expensive, 50 m will set you back about £85.
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2622 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 the antenna Wed Mar 22, 2023 7:15 am
8x is good enough.
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 the antenna Wed Mar 22, 2023 7:54 am
Depending on what particular variant of RG58 you have, loss at 27MHz for an 8m run is going to be in the order of 0.6dB. i.e. Not worth bothering about.
This assumes it is good RG58 coax, terminated correctly, etc.
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 364 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-25 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, midland alan 78 plus multi + mag mount , silver rod Age : 64
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Wed Mar 22, 2023 10:54 am
thanks guys £85 is a bit much and seeing as the coax i already have is in good nick i might just struggle on with it or as Alan says 8x is ok so might try some in the future
13oots2 Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4694, M7EUS Posts : 236 Times Thanked : 15 Join date : 2022-11-13 QTH or Location : Dorchester UK Equipment Used : Yaesu FT950, 66FT Endfed Antenna, Various Other Bits and Pieces Age : 57
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Thu Mar 23, 2023 2:24 am
skyrider wrote:
thanks guys £85 is a bit much and seeing as the coax i already have is in good nick i might just struggle on with it or as Alan says 8x is ok so might try some in the future
Your 8 m run would cost about £20 plus the plugs, it's £85 for 50 m.
SangueG Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-3971 / 2E0LMI Posts : 1303 Times Thanked : 83 Join date : 2021-01-30 QTH or Location : Cirencester, Gloucestershire Equipment Used : Little radios, home-made antennas
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Fri Mar 24, 2023 9:45 pm
My preference would be RG213, but chances are you wouldn't notice any difference between that and RG58 for what you want it for. I chose good quality* RG213, even though my cable runs are all under 10m, because they run inside the house to antennas that are also inside the house and I wanted to make sure I am picking up as little extra noise and creating as little RFI as possible when I transmit.
*Note that not all coax is made equal. I have some "RG213" of which the quality is absolutely shockingly bad. It's the right thickness, with 'military grade' writing printed on the outside.. the centre core looks good, but the shield braid is as sparse as the remaining hairs left on my head. Ok to use as short run out portable, but I won't use for my permeant setups. Make sure you buy from a reputable place if you do decide to upgrade your coax.
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 364 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-25 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, midland alan 78 plus multi + mag mount , silver rod Age : 64
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Sat Mar 25, 2023 4:44 pm
thanks for that SangueG
babis3g Major contributor
Call Sign : 18-CT-006 Posts : 209 Times Thanked : 3 Join date : 2022-11-16 QTH or Location : Corfu Greece, jm99ug Equipment Used : PNI 6500 & Sirio Boomerang 27A Age : 55
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Tue Mar 28, 2023 10:17 pm
i have seen a video (not remember it now) but an Eastern block person tested 4 watts with rg58 will do about 3.2 watts & rg213 will do 3.8 watts at meter ... same length, antenna & channel just different cable
Victor likes this post
BigTone Contributor
Call Sign : G8YMW or 26CT4498 Posts : 92 Times Thanked : 17 Join date : 2019-07-16 QTH or Location : Lincoln and Finningley Equipment Used : CRT 9900, Icom 705, Kenwood TS570, Icom 910 Age : 69
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Thu Mar 30, 2023 11:21 pm
skyrider wrote:
Hi 1300ts2 the length of coax im running is 8 metres and im using rg 58 at the moment and the performance is up and down thats why i was thinking of using the thicker stuff
I would say most of that would be conditions in the wide blue yonder. When you are on, give the cable a good wobble, if that causes changes, then that might be cable / plugs not on right
Victor likes this post
Ivy Mike Major contributor
Call Sign : 26CT4113/G1HWY Posts : 519 Times Thanked : 15 Join date : 2021-05-16 QTH or Location : IO90uv Equipment Used : ICOM radios/antenna farm Age : 69
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Fri Mar 31, 2023 9:06 pm
It's not just the cable loss/metre but the loss due to SWR must be added as well. In a short run it most likely will be small but will add up on longer runs.
Personally I would buy the best you can afford, not cheap stuff. As mentioned above a good quality cable will have at least 95% braid or the very best cable will have braid and foil, helps to keep out other rfi.
I have 8metre runs on my vertical and cobwebb but have M&P Ultraflex 10 on both. This reduces the losses to a minimum especially good for dxing.
Victor likes this post
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 364 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-25 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, midland alan 78 plus multi + mag mount , silver rod Age : 64
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Sat Apr 01, 2023 8:23 pm
thanks guys
13oots2 Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4694, M7EUS Posts : 236 Times Thanked : 15 Join date : 2022-11-13 QTH or Location : Dorchester UK Equipment Used : Yaesu FT950, 66FT Endfed Antenna, Various Other Bits and Pieces Age : 57
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Sat Apr 01, 2023 9:11 pm
If you have a few accessories, SWR meter etc, you would see some benefit to reducing the number of connections.
I bought an all-in-one tuner, power meter, SWR meter that cut my interconnects down to 1.
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 364 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-25 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, midland alan 78 plus multi + mag mount , silver rod Age : 64
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Sun Apr 02, 2023 11:17 am
Yes thanks 1300ts2 im using a combined swr meter and matcher which i have owned since the early eighties and it works well enough
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2622 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 the antenna Sun Apr 02, 2023 11:26 am
Check any old swr meter by connecting it backwards and using it backwards. Might sound daft but it works and if you get the same readings then you know it is spot on.
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 364 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-25 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, midland alan 78 plus multi + mag mount , silver rod Age : 64
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Sun Apr 02, 2023 11:32 am
ok will do Alan thanks
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 364 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-25 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, midland alan 78 plus multi + mag mount , silver rod Age : 64
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Wed Apr 05, 2023 1:22 pm
Hi Alan i tried what you said about swapping the leads over yesterday and everything ok thanks
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2622 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 the antenna Wed Apr 05, 2023 1:35 pm
skyrider wrote:
Hi Alan i tried what you said about swapping the leads over yesterday and everything ok thanks
Been on and off radio since the 70's but only found that out in the last year lol.
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 364 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-25 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, midland alan 78 plus multi + mag mount , silver rod Age : 64
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Wed Apr 05, 2023 1:41 pm
on my swr meter it says swr/fs what does fs mean Alan
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2622 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 the antenna Wed Apr 05, 2023 1:59 pm
fs could be field strength. Does it have a little silver block on it with a hole in the top.
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 364 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-25 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, midland alan 78 plus multi + mag mount , silver rod Age : 64
Subject: Re: coax for the antenna Wed Apr 05, 2023 2:06 pm
no above it is the swr/fs and matcher switch, the combined swr meter and matcher is called a wipe model 175
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2622 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 the antenna Wed Apr 05, 2023 2:18 pm
On the en does it have a bit sticking out of the black case. It would for measuring filed strength i think.
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2622 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 the antenna Wed Apr 05, 2023 2:20 pm
Could be on the back as in this short video. You got a tiny little aerial with a loop top to screw into it. https://www.google.com/search?q=wipe+model+175&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:b3e1387a,vid:mBPQXMmHBQM