The Coax Connection: Interview with Ray Nelson, N1MPD (#83)

Here's a new approach. For the first time on an Ask Dave video, I'm focusing on an interview! In this case it's with Ray Nelson, N1MPD, who with his wife own USA Coax (www.usacoax.com, or www.coaxusa.com, or mpddigital). Ray's an expert on coax and on the many types of connectors available, and his business caters to both amateurs and commercial users. Learn about coax! Subscribe: / davidcasler . Ask Dave Playlist: goo.gl/inaQeB. Tip Jar: ke0og.net/tip-jar
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[@worksmartpaul]

Good information Dave, thank you for taking the time to deliver it to us.

[@genebodenberger]

I have an MPD magnet on my file cabinet next to my computer desk. I have bought from them before and will definitely buy from them in the future. Great cables and now I can put a face and a name to the product. Great video, Dave. Thanks.

[@VNeshyba]

This was well done and interesting. Learned things I never even considered. Thanks Dave!

[@LaurentEgliAdventure]

Great idea to have those talks and very insightfull.

[@fa18mhr]

Very interesting video and it explains shortcomings in purchased cable and connectors that I have suspected for years but never heard any authoritative explanation before. Thanks Dave. This is a real keeper and I put my vote in for you to do more of this type of videos.

[@whattheflimflam]

Not all coax is created equal! Thanks for a great video, really opened my mind to the importance of buying from a reputable source.

[@AirfoilOne]

I just bought 100' of LMR400 from MPD a month ago or so. Outstanding quality product!

[@stater3]

Learned something today. Good to hear from a very reliable company. Going to hop on over to their website. Thank you Dave.

[@TheOpenAirGarage]

Very informative show today!!! Really enjoyed it. 73's

[@MadDawg91108]

Great episode Dave...it was very informative. All of my current cable runs are LMR400 and I found this interview to be especially interesting since all of my cable was purchased from MPD Digital. There are a mind numbing number of coax suppliers, both good and bad, and after watching this video I am beyond happy that I chose MPD Digital as my supplier. I recently purchased RG213 for the run to my new vertical that I am putting up soon......the information provided by Ray really helped to put my mind at ease about my choice of coax for this install since I was looking for something a little more flexible but of nearly the same quality. Love the recent addition of the "walking man" at the end of the video...I always try to use both feet when walking but sometimes I get tripped up....he makes it look easy. hihi 73 de W0FW

[@b165ja]

Thanks a lot to both of you. Resourceful. 14:38 copper clad alum center conductor cables - better performance

[@n4bc852]

"Fascinating" is a good description. I learned a few things. I DO like the format!

[@bobn6rlg689]

Learned more about coax and connectors from this video than all the reading I’ve done previously. Thanks, Dave!

[@davecasler]

I'm glad you found it useful.

[@duaneacord4979]

Really benefited from this interview. Highly recommend this new format. I had made extra within a few months, but was "all hat and no cattle" for several years. Just now gathering equipment for my first ham shack. Quickly learning ignorance is expensive! So, keep 'em coming. 73

[@MrTPF1]

Excellent discussion. I like the interview format if the person knows what they're doing, and this guy obviously does.

[@rangersmith4652]

At my local ham club's tailgate a while back, one vendor was liquidating the ham equipment of an estate. I picked up a 3' run of RG-8U in OD green, terminated with PL-259s, for a fiver. I might employ it when I add a 1.25 meter amp to my Anytone 578. I don't have any outside antennae yet, but when I do I'll use N-connectors.

[@paulkish007]

ThankYou David!

[@billtheslink4541]

Great video Dave. Thank you for having this fellow on. I am currently in the market for about 400 ft of coax and was so confused as to where to buy. My local candy store doesn't say exactly where on their website that the coax is made, only that it's type LMR but but they use a slightly different term and don't give the specs. I trust this man. There's plenty of information on his site. I'm also going to get N connectors for my new end fed half wave. 73, N8PEF

[@davidward2209]

I’ve just received my technician license and this video will serve me well in decisions buying coax for my first outdoor antenna install. Purchased 35 feet LMR400 w/PL259’s for the run from antenna to ground level spark arrester. Next decisions will go from spark arrester to the radio inside. Now I’m better equipped to make good decisions. Thanks much for this educational video. 73’s.

[@joelmcallister9248]

Thank you for posting, I learned a lot.

[@graywolf1911]

This was extremely interesting Dave. I was particularly interested in the DIN connectors. If they are superior to 239 connector series, I wonder why the HAM radio suppliers have not gone that way with transceivers? They sure do look extremely robust. I imagine that cost has a lot to do with it. Ray just sent me 35 feet of LMR400 with male and female connectors so that I can extend my feed line from a new location. He is a great guy to do business with, they are now my "go-to" cable company. Very knowledgeable, guy. Thank you for this video Dave, I certainly learned a lot.

[@wadewingfield4606]

great info, its a good day anytime you learn something new.

[@jimgiordano8218]

I use to make my own cables for the AES radios I installed in the alarm industry, I used BNC, TNC and N connectors on LMR240 and LMR400 coax. All were crimp on connectors. I could do it for a living, I enjoyed it that much.

[@ths3900]

Another good video. Thanks for pointing out an American source as well.

[@electron4784]

Great to know of a good source for coax....good quality coax that is. Thanks

[@bill-2018]

Interesting video Dave. Everything I have is BNC, all my homebrew stuff, and even my FT817 I use only the front BNC socket. I always unplug aerials when not in use in case of static build up on the aerials and it's just a simple turn to connect and disconnect. I was given an MFJ -16010 tuner and told it didn't work. I found a wire off inside but so close on a visual inspection it looked right. I re-soldered it and it works. I replaced the tx. SO239 with BNC and going to put a banana socket or something on the aerial side. Running coax out to say a long wire and trying to tune doesn't work. I tried it when I was first licensed and came to the conclusion it doesn't work at all well. I don't buy coax cable now unless I see the braid as there's some cheap coax with poor screening. 73, Bill, G4GHB.

[@brentjohnson6654]

Great video Dave! I have installed LMR400 with connectors on it already. I used N Type as I have used with other microwave installs. 73

[@alfranca5961]

Great info as always

[@KirkMonteux]

Looks like a Santa Clause summer camp :)

[@Usacoax]

Yes - I resemble that remark and my wife just made me trim the beard up prior to the interview or it would be worse!

[@michelsinnott]

Interesting subject very informative like this format. Will recommend to others here in 3B8 land.

[@g0fvt]

FWIW the 7/16"" DIN connectors are used in nearly all Cellular IBDAS systems (In Building Distributed Antenna Systems) . They are chosen primarily for their good passive intermodulation performance. A fascinating interview, as Ray pointed out some of the ""Eastern" RG types are very economical with their copper.

[@johnkershaw9575]

Very informative. Thanks.

[@geofham8332]

Hi, great info ,many thanks.

[@1337flite]

Thanks, Dave and Ray this was a really useful video. I'm new the HAM and finding the right co-ax feedline and connector is one of my biggest concerns. The format is great. Bit of trivia - DIN is a German standards body, similar to ANSI. The 'D' stands for Deutsch, not sure about the rest. There are lots of different types of DIN connectors outside of radio, for exmaple old Mac computers used a 9 pin DIN-9 for their serial ports.

[@huallacanes100]

I wish they would of touch on the RG-400 but very informative video 73!

[@baronlund9725]

Excellent video.

[@adelarsen9776]

Hello !!! 1) RF flows on the outside and that's why copper plating alloy centre conductor is all you need. Andrew Corp Heliax use Alloy with the inner and outer copper plated. 2) UHF PL259 connectors are best with frequencies between zero and 144 Mhz because the inner centre pin has a lot of surface area and keeps the signal clean with a lot less noise. Again, it's about where the RF flows - the outside. The greater the surface area the less the loss and the better the noise to signal ratio. 3) N connectors are best from VHF and upwards. 4) BNC is best from VHF and upwards 5) Putting plugs onto cables is so easy even a monkey could do it. 6) Many QRP operators utilise RG174 for the shortwave bands.

[@davidcarlson4412]

Great show on coax

[@jamescstanley5018]

Well 3 odd years late to the party (as usual!) Very interesting, particularly about some imported co ax, I guess the old saying about getting what you pay for holds good! With the influx of Covid New Hams world wide, maybe an updated video, possibly with a demo of fitting the most common types is in order? $0 odd years ago I delivered coloured TVs in the UK, installing them in customers homes, and thought I was fairly OK with the plugs etc, turns out I need a refresher course. Keep up the good work please. Jim M7BXT

[@thameswater2561]

That was great, pity you did not show any cable would have helped.. thank you for your programs.

[@larrywieberdink8379]

Enlightening!! N and TCN seem to top the list.

[@wt8bz667]

Very informative. Would be interested in knowing proper technique for testing coax before installing it. Using a VOM testing for continuity has not been reliable in my experience. Also any suggestions on getting the coax from outside to inside. Who makes reliable fittings for eaves, through walls, etc.,? Those of us with casement windows have to go through a wall or eave. Thanks for the info.

[@francismcclaughry3794]

I have a gap in the back yard it is only about thirty foot run I just coiled it under the table. it sounds like this would be a great place to buy cable.

[@crx_ninja]

Great video, very informative de N9SIR

[@leopoldoalvarez6787]

All microwave and Cell technician involve in RF nows that PL259 connector are not option ..., but on radio amateur fractures, early or late will change the PL259 as standard..., Thank Dave good interview...

[@bandit269u]

Ok try that again in English.

[@shawnwegner1906]

That was great now. I can find different cable

[@carolmartin7042]

This format is great. It is recommended that no foam dielectric coax be used for baluns. What coax do you recommend for HF and for UHF? Glen, N0QFT

[@ledbetter80]

LMA400

[@donaldsmith3048]

Thank you. Some good information. When I worked on radios in 450 MHz and above most used connector on base radio or higher powered 900 MHz trunking radios almost all used N connectors because of the different in loss at that frequency. And almost all the antennas we put up used N connectors. It is a pain to go up a 300 or 500 foot to replace a connector that got water in it!

[@davecasler]

N connectors are popular among contesters or DXers in the US. In Europe the N connector is very popular. It is definitely superior to the so-called UHF connectors, but has never caught on widely in the US.

[@donaldsmith3048]

@@davecasler Maybe because they are not as easy to put on as the PL259

[@pedalingthru2719]

Dave I got a question about more than one end feed dipole antennas on one tower. How much separation should there be between the antennas? Vertical or horizontal ? I have a east west run from my 60 foot tower that gives me about 900 foot run to a abandoned broadcast tower that is approximately 100 ft . There is a valley between the two towers that drops 40 ft.

[@gh778jk]

David, The Gentleman of the cable outfitters is right about PL-259 connectors. Very few people in the HAM community use them in Europe. They are often referred to in a derogatory way as "CB -connectors". Everything I have , from HF to microwave is either BNC or N. I just bought a new 2m/70 cm rig, which came with an SO 239 chassispart. Before that radio was even tried out the chassis part was swapped out for a female N chassispart. Even if your PL 259 are well made and have the proper Teflon center, I'd advise against using them. N connectors are much more reliable, waterproof, durable and easier to attach to a cable! They are also easier to take of off a cable, which means you can keep recycling them without the connectors degrading. 73 Paddy

[@davecasler]

And yet somehow we survive!

[@CondoreComputing]

In my setup anything that goes outside uses N connectors that seal around the coax jacket so they are completely water tight. For equipment inside, or existing connectors on radios I dont see a point in changing them, i just use good quality amphenol connectors. Unless your running a LOT of power or above UHF you will never notice any loss with a good quality connector. From a few demonstrations and tests that i have looked into I have never seen more than a few hundredths of a dB of loss on a well installed PL-259 connector below 400-500Mhz.

[@MoTown44240]

Very informative Dave. This will save me money. I was about to buy 500 feet of LMR400 because I thought it is the newest and greatest coaxial cable for HF through UHF. But from what I heard from Ray the LMR400 won't necessarily be beneficial to me on HF. On HF I run 450 ohm window line to the pass-through window connections tne jumper coax from baluns to the ATU then XCVR. I run strictly QRP on HF and the CW portions of the bands above 30 MHz. High power for me above 30 MHz is generally 45w to 100w. LMR might be my best choice above 30 MHz FM.

[@Usacoax]

Nothing wrong with Ladder Line! Coax was developed because it is easy, Soldier Proof, and stable. NOT because it was more efficient or lower loss.

[@Usacoax]

Also, look at LMR-240 or Amphenol 240 - close to the same loss and more flexible at less than 80-100 ft

[@leesradio6095]

Will Flex Seal Spray Rubber Sealant work to weatherproof?

[@daveN2MXX]

I am super happy with 50ft lengths of lmr400 for both hf and vhf/uhf

[@katmanclancy]

Ahh spark arrestor, surge protector .. does it matter where it is in line, antenna side or radio side Dave?

[@francismcclaughry3794]

Dave he was talking N connector. well when Radio shack went out of business. the one around our town they had a lot of n connectors or at least the connector that I was looking at the connectors I just have a bunch of them abut now radio i have ever got uses tahe n connectors most have pl 259 connectors so I have no used for those connector..

[@seanmckinnon4612]

DIN is German for German Industrial Standardans their are many types of DIN connectors. There are also other products that are “DIN” like “din rail” for example.

[@alexjenner1108]

The 7-16 DIN connector is the one being referred to here. I've seen them used on most cellular base station antenna/feeder installations.

[@n3roc]

I never knew pl259’s were terrible on UHF. They seem to work okay to me?

[@9999plato]

I bought several LMR400 cables from MPD and they are quite nice. I'd rather buy quality American cable every time It's better for everyone concerned and it's way to easy to buy the wrong stuff when you are a new ham. You know you are getting quality when you buy from shops like his or Palomar Engineering.

[@paulandrews171]

Dave, I realize it's not covered here, but any reason why you don't mention LMR-195? I'm not running more thann 100 watts.

[@davecasler]

It's not the peak power capability that's important, but rather the loss per foot or meter. LMR 195 has high losses.

[@kk4zdztech583]

Dave, I really like your grey arm magnify florescent lamp on your bench. Can you tell me were you got it? KK4ZDZ

[@davecasler]

Office Depot

[@jimaspinwall7814]

LMR: Lasts Mostly until Rain, Lots of Moisture Reactions, Least Means of Rejection from commercial radio sites.

[@dalemyers5096]

I have lmr600 equivalent ca600. What's the 75 ohm equivalent called of the .590 sized coax.

[@Usacoax]

There are a few :) When you get that large with 75 Ohm most CATV runs are made with a smoothwall Aluminum coax made by Commscope. This is what you see run for miles on the telephone poles bring cable to everyone. In Ham Radio there is very little call for coax larger than RG-11 as that will be very low loss up to 3 GHz

[@dalemyers5096]

MPD Digital if i could get my hands on it. Power handeling and low loss.

[@dalemyers5096]

MPD Digital it's for a matching network for an antenna.

[@Usacoax]

You would be fine using RG-11. Matching LMR-600 with RG-11 is done frequently and works well with little loss. Good US Made RG-11 is less than 60 cents per foot.

[@highkicker11]

its interesting, but you know a lot of what ray said rings a real loud bell with me. because most folks that need home Network cables installed think its something you can do in 5 minutes. off-course if you have no walls to go though and its ready made then yeah trowing down a cable haphazardly can be done in 1 minute and if you want a little less haphazardly then 5 will do but when you have to route it trough walls and up stairs and such and then put on connectors it takes a lot more time to do it right and don't even get me started on connectors. there a dozens off-connectors just for rg-45 that are real cheap but the good ones they are not as cheap. jet folks always want the cheapest pieces of excrement connectors there are and those take even more time to install.

[@Etherionix]

Beard Brothers! Yay! :-D==

[@Wrangler403]

Fyi: DIN is short for Deutsche Industrie Norm. Means German industrial standard. :-)

[@davecasler]

Thanks for the info!

[@adelarsen9776]

Yes, that's why DIN plugs are mostly found on German and French commercial, industrial and military equipment.

[@jfrede1976]

Would be nice to see an Video interview with an actual cable manufacturer like Messi & Paoloni not a reseller. ;-)

[@davecasler]

Yes, true. A key part of the problem is identifying the right person to interview and then getting that person's interest in being interviewed! Do you know anyone at these manufacturers?

[@jfrede1976]

Unfortunately not but they have a KZbin channel kzbin.info/door/i-RNcq_oEK6r1NEzqeiAeQ (Messi & Paoloni SRL) perhaps you can contact them on this way.

[@jimaspinwall7814]

There are specs for known cables, exploitive marketers just don't care.

[@jeromegrzelak8236]

THANK YOU SANTAS KG6MN

[@SKYGUY1]

44 years a Ham and I can still learn some stuff. Thanks Dave. Very interesting and helpful. Now if we could just get "N" connectors at the same price as silver-plated Amphenol PL-259 connectors. 73 / K4KID