Ham Radio Coax Cable Losses & Choices

[@bobsaunders3621]

At last some common sense regarding coaxial cables at hf and vhf, well done.

[@richiec7602]

Here in the states, RG 58 is usually used in vehicles at around 14-16 ft long. Other cables used are RG 8 and RG 8X. I’d like to see you do same test using them. Thanks

[@bwillan]

Along with just looking at signal loss in the coax cable, there are other factors that make a cable higher quality. UV resistance for prolonged outdoor use, flexibility, dialectic material, solid vs stranded centre conductor, shield quality (copper coated aluminum, vs 100% copper) etc.

[@BillyMM7FQP]

I enjoy your videos Peter and appreciate that you take time to do them. I personally use RG213 and although it’s not the most flexible coax on the market I use it because I can bury it under my grass in the garden and run it up towards the house and it’s out the way so no complaints from “ her in doors “

[@dandypoint]

Good info. I have been using RG8X for all my antennas for some time. I run up to 750 watts in contests a lot. I don’t worry at all about 160 through 40 meters with runs around 150 feet. I do try and put my 10 and 20 meter antennas closer so I don’t need long runs. The run on those antennas is probably 100 feet. May not be the best on 10 meters but if I can get most guys on the first call and am able to sit on a frequency and run European stations for a long as I want on 10 meters, I think there is no need for any changes. I don’t expect to compete with the big guns ( if I did I would run 1500 watts and just maybe use more expensive coax!) but it’s fun to work 100 countries or all states in one weekend. I can do that with RG8X feeding my dipoles on the high bands.

[@davidportch8837]

many thanks Peter... Another really useful, practical video..

[@winterburan]

I listened to the Italian translation of the audio for the first time, strange but very realistic, I prefer to listen to English, even though I haven't studied it but I understand most of it, if spoken slowly and clearly, without inflections, however I only use Italian coaxial cables from Messi & Paoloni

[@fraserhardmetal7143]

Yet again Peter makes the subject interesting and enjoyable - it's Jackanory for Hams.

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks.

[@brianfields4479]

Nice one Peter.

[@Roger-be2eu]

We are allways learnig Well done! Thank you very much Peter! Regards from Portugal, CR7BMD, 73!

[@watersstanton]

Thanks for your support.

[@XBKLYN]

I use flexible direct-burial RG8X for 75 foot runs to accommodate all the twists and turns required to get from the basement shack to the outdoor lightning arrestor box. All I can say is when 10 meters is open I can run 100 watts and DX with the best of them. Fade margin on 10 meters is about 10dB which means my 2dB cable loss with respect to larger RG8 cable doesn't amount to a hill of beans. You just have to understand your own situation. Would I run RG8X up a 100 foot tower? Heck no, but for a 100 watt wire antenna config why not!

[@adavies6696]

Just swapped out my RG58 for better coax, and some decent connectors - probably overkill, but it opened up 4x new HF bands for me on the longwire, and greatly improved the RX/TX on the 2m/70cm antenna. I've learnt my coax lesson!

[@watersstanton]

Great to hear.

[@CamilleCullen-ow6qj]

Great video, many thanks! Robert K5TPC

[@TexasScout]

I have been using RG8X coax for a while now it’s slightly bigger than the R G 58 in a little less Lawson but it’s not very expensive. My run to my HF antenna is only about 45 ft

[@ralfkruse7565]

You didn't mention the excellent Cellflex HCF 1/2". I used it for over 10 Years from the station to X5000 on 144, 430, and 1296 15m long. Now it's only 4m RG223. On Shortwave it's 1m RG58, to the coupler at the window, then 8cm spaced homemade Feeder line.😊

[@alangoulding4252]

Great video Peter and very informative, what are your thoughts on RG 58 mini coax? I use this in all my installs and seems very good for me...

[@GordonHudson]

I have 10m of decent quality RG58 on my 10 MHz antenna. I can't imagine any other coax improving the performance.

[@Rubedo777]

Hmmmm I’m a plug and play guy and it just depends who I’m listening to as to what kind of influence they have on me… 🤔 admittedly the M&P coax was my choice because someone in my circle said RG58 was an old design and out dated ??? and ‘I need’ the modern ‘stuff’ which has been ‘blessed’ hmmm !!! RG58 was ok for me way back in AM CB before being bitten by the amateur radio bug back in the 90s,,, then there was very little “techie stuff” to play with… eg. like two repeaters locally, one on Winter Hill and another in Cheshire 😳 I think? Could be wrong, I’m sure I’ll get some FLAK.💥 …. and “internet ? Nodes ? Whatever star you can connect to now ! what’s these??? And I feel the smart phone destroyed ham radio… for the minute. S O… Thank you Peter for this review of the coax…good on yer… I really like your presentations 😉 and,,, 🤪 what’s this 60ft garden….whaow!!! that’s like the rain forest..😊 hahahahahha 20ft x 13ft that’s my little plot on this earth. Nevermind… we do what we can, not what we can’t. Best wishes to everyone.73. 💙 G0uvl

[@HamRadioN0CKL]

If one looks at the difference between the most expensive to "good enough" per meter it really worth splitting hairs over. Look at what a person spends on eating out in a month or buying coffee or tea. Skip that a few times and buy the best and use it for a long long time with the best results.

[@alexmonaghan4745]

I need to get 80-90 metres from the office / shack down to the point in the garden I want to run the antenna, guessing LMR400 is the best bet with regard to losses, looking at a EFHW or other long wire type of antenna as I can run north / south in open space and have about 150m of space to play with down there a good 100m from nearest houses so hoping to be QRM free, will need to site VHF/UHF a bit closer to the house otherwise losses will be too high and we're a bit higher up at this end of the plot. Any solution better than LMR400 in a similar cost range?

[@watersstanton]

I would say LMR400 is your best solution. Hope all works out for you.

[@VP2EIHonAnguillaIsland]

Thanks for another great video👋c-ya on da bands, 73🎙Ira

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks, thats DX for me. Look forward to QSO.

[@VP2EIHonAnguillaIsland]

@@watersstanton awesome.. tnx

[@pixeluser175]

0:15 Nice weekend party music

[@brian.7966]

much of it depends on the length of the coax.

[@grandpaandlucas7054]

my hf yagi to my shack is over 170ft. so i don't run coax. I run 10ft of 213 to a 9:1 balun, that's connected to 450 ohm feeder line then to another 9:1 balun back to a 5ft length of 213 at the antenna. it seems to work for me.

[@johnharrison373]

Don't forget you will still get losses from your baluns and 450 Ohm feed line. But if it works for you...

[@grandpaandlucas7054]

@@johnharrison373 Ladder line has around 0.35 dB per hundred feet and at 14mhz 9:1 loss 0,0 lot less then most coax. so the local antenna maker near me tells me.

[@johnlees8418]

rg58 shortest run you can do . that 213 too thick and makes life hard in the radio room. moves your radio unless you got big old homebase radio

[@G0USL]

I only use double screened coax for HF as it has much better performance to breakthrough of interference resulting in less noise at the receiver, signal to noise being my primary concern.I use Aircell7 or similar. I've never really bothered too much about losses at hf. Yes I use LMR400 at vhf/uhf Interesting video as usual though Peter thanks. 73 de G0USL

[@watersstanton]

Cheers. Thanks for your support.