coax choice

[NZ4Z]

For HF use, all bands.....what have you found to be the most reliable, best performance coax? I will have no longer than 100 ft runs, one to dipole, one vertical, which I normally put in PVC conduit.
Thanks

Steve

[KB1GTX]

I'm a belden 8214 guy!

http://www.dxengineering.com/pdf/Belden%20RG-8%20Data%208214.pdf

[STAYVERTICAL]

RG213 is a good choice, inexpensive, flexible, strong and can be found at the local grocery store (not really!).
For HF and 6m this is not going to give you any substantial losses, especially over only 100 ft.
I would stay away from RG58, except for short runs.
Coax losses become more important with increasing feedline SWR.
This is why a good quality coax on HF is desirable, since unless you have a remote ATU at the antenna feedpoint, there will almost always be some higher SWR in a multiband situation.

Good luck, 73s

[N4NYY]

I use DavisRF Buryflex. It is the LMR-400 or Belden 9913 equivalent, but is stranded and has a tough bury-able jacket.

[W8JX]

I have some mil spec 213 that has been outside and in ground 20 years now with no problems.

[K0ZN]

 HA ! Chuckle...  you should get a lot of responses to that.  There are a lot of variables that might be added to that question.....everything from
what frequencies, power levels, to cost, to mechanical strength, to buried or not buried, hard line vs. coax, how long it will be in service,  etc.

 Bottomline:  kinda depends on what properties you are most concerned with. Fortunately, 100 ft. is not a long run and you have a lot of good options....and compromises
                  to sort out!

 Personally, I have never had a good, major brand of coax go bad as long as you terminate it properly and keep water out of it. The CONNECTORS are usually
 the weak point in the chain. You can ruin good coax rather quickly if you don't keep water out of the connectors, etc.

73,  K0ZN

P.S.    You might note that lawn mowers are hard on ANY kind of coax !  I had some experience with that one time.  (chuckle....)

[K9KJM]

Belden RG 213 is considered the "Cadillac" of HF coax, And is my top choice.

(For VHF/UHF TIMES LMR 400 is a better choice for low loss)

[K2DC]

I've been using Andrew FSJ4-50 almost exclusively.  I obtained all of it either surplus or used.  Most of it has been in outdoor use for well over 20 years, and I know for a fact it was more than 10 years old when I got it.  The only problems I've ever had were all connectors, and easy to fix.

It's very expensive and the connectors are outrageous new, but if you watch the boards and eBay it sometimes comes up from time to time for $1/ft. or so and connectors for a few bucks each.  Not as cheap or easy to find as RG-213 but it will outlive us all.

73,

Don, K2DC

[WE1X]

Steve,

Go with the best quality, lowest loss coax and connectors you can find and afford. Yes, at HF you can get away with RG-213 and maybe even 8X. However, I am always amazed that hams will sink a boatload of money into rigs, accessories and maybe antennas only to go cheap on the critical link of getting the RF from the shack to the antenna.  It's akin to designing and building a wonderful concert hall then going "oops, need to install and audio system".  Good quality coax will last years if installed properly. I've had very good experience with LMR-240 (low loss, RG-8x size coax) and LMR-400 and equivalents. AMP connectors installed and sealed with electrical tape and coax seal. Never a problem.

Harry WE1X

[SWMAN]

 I use Belden 8237
RG-8U It is a commercial grade coax. About the best RG-8 that you can buy. 73 Jim. W5JJG

[W8JX]

Yes, at HF you can get away with RG-213 and maybe even 8X. However, I am always amazed that hams will sink a boatload of money into rigs, accessories and maybe antennas only to go cheap on the critical link of getting the RF from the shack to the antenna.  It's akin to designing and building a wonderful concert hall then going "oops, need to install and audio system".  Good quality coax will last years if installed properly. I've had very good experience with LMR-240 (low loss, RG-8x size coax) and LMR-400 and equivalents. AMP connectors installed and sealed with electrical tape and coax seal. Never a problem.

Harry WE1X

I never cease to be amazed by those that say you MUST have LMR400 on HF. Bizarre. You do not need LMR400 to do very well on HF and unless run is several hundred feet long and in upper HF there is no possible detectable difference down range. And what you need on such a long run is hard line and not LMR400 to make a real difference. RG213 is TOTALLY fine out to a few hundred feet on HF and RG8x is fine to 100 feet of so too and routes easier in restricted installations. Using more than you need here is really kinda a waste but it makes some feel better to waste money.

[K8AXW]

One additional opinion.... not with the coax question but the PVC.  Assuming it is buried, be sure to have condensate drain holes in it or if it's sloping, have a drain in the low end.

[WB6BYU]

VK1OD's transmission line loss calculator makes it easy to compare the line losses for various
types and lengths.

http://www.vk1od.net/calc/tl/tllc.php

For example, for a 100' length on 10m, the line losses are:
RG-213     1.0dB
LMR-400   0.7dB
RG-8X      1.6dB (Belden 9258)
RG-58C/U  2.3dB

If 0.3dB is important to you on 10m, then it would be worthwhile choosing the LMR-400 over RG-213.


The losses vary with frequency.  For 80m they look like this:
RG-213       0.35dB
LMR-400     0.25dB
RG-8X        0.55dB
RG-58C/U   0.75dB

You would have a hard time noticing any difference among these on the air.

For a dipole for 40 / 80m, RG-58 is perfectly fine, especially if you are trying to minimize the
weight on it.  You'll probably want a heavier coax if you are going to run a kW, however.


In the end it comes down to your personal choice about cost vs. performance.  You might
decide to use different cables for the two antennas because they will be used on different
bands, or you may find that buying a spool of one type saves money over two shorter
pieces.  For casual rag chewing any of these will be adequate.  You certainly can't go
wrong with RG-213 for most purposes (except where weight or flexibility are important). 
You can run the numbers for other bands if those are of greater interest to you.


But if you are buying new coax, it is worthwhile making sure it is of good quality.  There are
some brands that have poor braid coverage, or the jacket degrades in sunlight.  Use good
connectors and make sure the joints are sealed to keep water out - that ruin your coax
faster than anything else (except the lawnmower.)

[AC5UP]

If 0.3dB is important to you on 10m, then it would be worthwhile choosing the LMR-400 over RG-213.

My Two Cents:    Compared to even the slightest amount of QSB, 0.3 dB isn't enough to fill a gnat's navel........... 

[W8JX]

If 0.3dB is important to you on 10m, then it would be worthwhile choosing the LMR-400 over RG-213.

If it is import you have bigger issues than line loss.