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Author Topic: Coax for portable ops  (Read 402 times)

KD2E

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Coax for portable ops
« on: June 30, 2021, 01:24:18 PM »

I know to use LMR or, I think it was RG214 or 213...top notch stuff for VHF/UHF setup at a home location.
BUT...
For portable use, when the run is about 20 feet, and 100 Watts,
Can I use thin RG316?  I checked RG174, and I think it has a 60 watt or so max at 200 Mhz, but 316 is over 100 watts.
I'd like to use this stuff when I'm dropping an antenna in to the truck hitch mount for contesting or POTA/SOTA type operation. I wonder if anyone else has "been there, done that"??
Thanks in advance!
....Dave
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W7CXC

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Re: Coax for portable ops
« Reply #1 on: June 30, 2021, 01:31:19 PM »

RG58X
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AE0Q

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    • AE0Q Amateur Radio
Re: Coax for portable ops
« Reply #2 on: June 30, 2021, 01:44:31 PM »

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NSGA Edzell 1974-77  CTM2  GM5BKC : NSGA Rota 1972-74   ZB2WZ, SV0WY
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K3XR

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Re: Coax for portable ops
« Reply #3 on: June 30, 2021, 02:27:24 PM »

I know to use LMR or, I think it was RG214 or 213...top notch stuff for VHF/UHF setup at a home location.
BUT...
For portable use, when the run is about 20 feet, and 100 Watts,
Can I use thin RG316?  I checked RG174, and I think it has a 60 watt or so max at 200 Mhz, but 316 is over 100 watts.
I'd like to use this stuff when I'm dropping an antenna in to the truck hitch mount for contesting or POTA/SOTA type operation. I wonder if anyone else has "been there, done that"??
Thanks in advance!
....Dave

If it's about a 20 foot run check out LMR 240UF specs.  That's what I use when camping works great. Have fun.
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K8DXX

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Re: Coax for portable ops
« Reply #4 on: June 30, 2021, 08:32:30 PM »

There is a smaller low loss coax that is reported to be god to 1200 watts PEP.  LMR 400.
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W9FIB

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Re: Coax for portable ops
« Reply #5 on: July 01, 2021, 02:10:15 AM »

RG58X

+1

No need for expensive stuff for 20'.
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73, Stan
Travelling the world one signal at a time.

W9IQ

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Re: Coax for portable ops
« Reply #6 on: July 01, 2021, 06:48:42 AM »

I know to use LMR or, I think it was RG214 or 213...top notch stuff for VHF/UHF setup at a home location.
BUT...
For portable use, when the run is about 20 feet, and 100 Watts,
Can I use thin RG316?  I checked RG174, and I think it has a 60 watt or so max at 200 Mhz, but 316 is over 100 watts.
I'd like to use this stuff when I'm dropping an antenna in to the truck hitch mount for contesting or POTA/SOTA type operation. I wonder if anyone else has "been there, done that"??
Thanks in advance!
....Dave

Dave,

One of the decision factors is often how much loss your application can tolerate. Here are the losses for the cables mentioned (20 ft, 200 MHz, 50 ohm load):

Belden 8216   RG-174/U  2.6 dB
Belden 84316 RG-316/U  2.4 dB   
Belden 9201   RG-58/U    1.1 dB
Belden 9258   RG-8X       0.9 dB
Times LMR-240-F             0.8 dB

Power handling will also depend upon the SWR that the load presents. All of the above will handle at least 100 watts with an SWR of 1. If the SWR is greater than 1 then the power handling goes down (divide by the SWR) and the losses go up.

Also take into consideration putting appropriate connectors on the cable. If you don't have the right connectors and crimp tools, it can be quite a problem.

- Glenn W9IQ
         
« Last Edit: July 01, 2021, 06:51:32 AM by W9IQ »
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

W9IQ

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Re: Coax for portable ops
« Reply #7 on: July 01, 2021, 07:11:46 AM »

The last coax in the table is Times LMR-240-UF. I inadvertently dropped the 'U'.

- Glenn W9IQ
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.
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