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RG-8X

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john@kk9a.com

RG-8X

The original post by W4KBX was this: "I’m seeking recommendations for
RG-8X coax with the lowest loss. The total run will be about 100 feet."

You cannot defy physics and have low loss with 1/4" coax, no matter who
the manufacture is, but RG8X was his criteria.

John KK9A

Jim Brown K9YC wrote:

On 2/26/2018 11:02 AM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
> I did inquire as to the application. To feed a 6M yagi being a 6OWL6W.
My thinking, I would cringe at putting up a nice yagi such as this and
not use the feedline with the lowest loss possible. Most likely Andrew
LDF4-50A hardline.

Me too! The 350 ft run from my shack to the 3-el SteppIR is 7/8-in
hardline, transitioning to a short length of flexible coax for the
rotator loop. Scrounged the hard line used for roughly $1/ft. Loss is
about 1 dB on 6M.

73, Jim K9YC

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Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: RG-8X

I found that not all RG-8X is created equal. For one project, I
measured 3 or 4 different brands of new RG-8X to find that the loss can
vary considerably. The measurement method was to use 50 ft, snake it
back an forth across the floor so as not to have adjacent coupling, the
ends fitted with N type connectors and connected to my Spectrum Analyzer
with tracking generator. Normal meaningful sweep was 0.1 MHz to 1
GHz. I don't recall the numbers but I was a bit surprised to find
significant difference as I recall. The project was in preparation of
antennas for Field Day operation.

73

Bob, K4TAX

On 2/26/2018 4:28 PM, [hidden email] wrote:

> The original post by W4KBX was this: "I’m seeking recommendations for
> RG-8X coax with the lowest loss. The total run will be about 100 feet."
>
> You cannot defy physics and have low loss with 1/4" coax, no matter who
> the manufacture is, but RG8X was his criteria.
>
> John KK9A
>
>
> Jim Brown K9YC wrote:
>
> On 2/26/2018 11:02 AM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
>> I did inquire as to the application. To feed a 6M yagi being a 6OWL6W.
> My thinking, I would cringe at putting up a nice yagi such as this and
> not use the feedline with the lowest loss possible. Most likely Andrew
> LDF4-50A hardline.
>
> Me too! The 350 ft run from my shack to the 3-el SteppIR is 7/8-in
> hardline, transitioning to a short length of flexible coax for the
> rotator loop. Scrounged the hard line used for roughly $1/ft. Loss is
> about 1 dB on 6M.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

donovanf

Re: RG-8X

In reply to this post by john@kk9a.com

W4KBX hasn't commented about the frequency at which he intends
to use 100 feet of RG-8X. 0.24 inch diameter coax -- no matter
what type or manufacturer -- isn't the best choice for 100 foot cable
lengths at 21 MHz or above.

It s a much better investment to step up to the next larger diameter
coax, especially at 50 MHz. LMR400 or LMR400-DB (waterproof
flooded coax) are much better choices for 100 foot cable lengths
at 21 MHz or above.

Of course its hard to beat LDF4-50A but at a cable length of only
100 feet the difference in loss compared to LMR400 is less than
1/2 dB at 50 MHz. You'll never notice the difference.

LDF4-50A or LMR600 is an excellent choice for a 200 foot coax
length at 50 MHz. Much beyond 200 feet at 50 MHZ and LDF5-50A
or LMR900 is a better choice.

All of this assumes proper installation. Moisture intrusion resulting
from poor installation practices will degrade your investment no
matter what coax you select.

73
Frank
W3LPL

----- Original Message -----

From: [hidden email]
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2018 10:28:05 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] RG-8X

The original post by W4KBX was this: "I’m seeking recommendations for
RG-8X coax with the lowest loss. The total run will be about 100 feet."

You cannot defy physics and have low loss with 1/4" coax, no matter who
the manufacture is, but RG8X was his criteria.

John KK9A

Jim Brown K9YC wrote:

On 2/26/2018 11:02 AM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
> I did inquire as to the application. To feed a 6M yagi being a 6OWL6W.
My thinking, I would cringe at putting up a nice yagi such as this and
not use the feedline with the lowest loss possible. Most likely Andrew
LDF4-50A hardline.

Me too! The 350 ft run from my shack to the 3-el SteppIR is 7/8-in
hardline, transitioning to a short length of flexible coax for the
rotator loop. Scrounged the hard line used for roughly $1/ft. Loss is
about 1 dB on 6M.

73, Jim K9YC

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Richard-6

Re: RG-8X

The problem is often I get an answer or a request for more info, and I reply without realizing that it goes to an individual’s e-mail address, not to the selector at large. It almost happened with this one.

I was talking about 75 to 100 feet on 50 MHz.

I plan to use DXE’s 400MAX, with which I have had excellent results before.

Richard - W4KBX

> On Feb 26, 2018, at 8:23 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
>
> W4KBX hasn't commented about the frequency at which he intends
> to use 100 feet of RG-8X. 0.24 inch diameter coax -- no matter
> what type or manufacturer -- isn't the best choice for 100 foot cable
> lengths at 21 MHz or above.
>
>
>
> It s a much better investment to step up to the next larger diameter
> coax, especially at 50 MHz. LMR400 or LMR400-DB (waterproof
> flooded coax) are much better choices for 100 foot cable lengths
> at 21 MHz or above.
>
>
> Of course its hard to beat LDF4-50A but at a cable length of only
> 100 feet the difference in loss compared to LMR400 is less than
> 1/2 dB at 50 MHz. You'll never notice the difference.
>
>
> LDF4-50A or LMR600 is an excellent choice for a 200 foot coax
> length at 50 MHz. Much beyond 200 feet at 50 MHZ and LDF5-50A
> or LMR900 is a better choice.
>
>
> All of this assumes proper installation. Moisture intrusion resulting
> from poor installation practices will degrade your investment no
> matter what coax you select.
>
>
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: [hidden email]
> To: [hidden email]
> Sent: Monday, February 26, 2018 10:28:05 PM
> Subject: [Elecraft] RG-8X
>
> The original post by W4KBX was this: "I’m seeking recommendations for
> RG-8X coax with the lowest loss. The total run will be about 100 feet."
>
> You cannot defy physics and have low loss with 1/4" coax, no matter who
> the manufacture is, but RG8X was his criteria.
>
> John KK9A
>
>
> Jim Brown K9YC wrote:
>
> On 2/26/2018 11:02 AM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
>> I did inquire as to the application. To feed a 6M yagi being a 6OWL6W.
> My thinking, I would cringe at putting up a nice yagi such as this and
> not use the feedline with the lowest loss possible. Most likely Andrew
> LDF4-50A hardline.
>
> Me too! The 350 ft run from my shack to the 3-el SteppIR is 7/8-in
> hardline, transitioning to a short length of flexible coax for the
> rotator loop. Scrounged the hard line used for roughly $1/ft. Loss is
> about 1 dB on 6M.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

donovanf

Re: RG-8X

DX Engineering 400MAX is an excellent choice, I'm sure you'll
be pleased with its performance. Make the extra effort to seal the
connectors very, very well and be sure you install the cable on
your tower securely so that high winds cannot possibly cause
abrasion of the coaxial cable jacket.

Good luck!

73
Frank
W3LPL

----- Original Message -----

From: "Richard" <[hidden email]>
To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 2:02:32 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] RG-8X

The problem is often I get an answer or a request for more info, and I reply without realizing that it goes to an individual’s e-mail address, not to the selector at large. It almost happened with this one.

I was talking about 75 to 100 feet on 50 MHz.

I plan to use DXE’s 400MAX, with which I have had excellent results before.

Richard - W4KBX

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]
______________________________________________________________
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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Jim Brown-10

Re: RG-8X

In reply to this post by Bob McGraw - K4TAX

On 2/26/2018 3:15 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
> I found that not all RG-8X is created equal.

Absolutely! And this is true of ALL coax types. There's a lot of junk
floating around.

73, Jim K9YC

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