Best Coax for Base Antenna

[Brain the Dog]

What is the absolute best coax for my base station running on 4 watts to A99 with Ground Plane Kit. I want the absolute best! I'm only running about 27 feet from radio to antenna, with an inline Polyphaser. I want the absolute least amount of loss.

So, what's the best coax and where should I order it from? Thanks!

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Well you DID say the best. https://www.rfparts.com/coax/heliaxcoax/heliax158inch.html

This probably good enough. No need to go crazy with coax.

 

[Robb]

Yeah; but just a little over the top . . . ya think?

Times-Microwave LMR-400/RG-8 is the best. But you are using less than 30 ft, so even RG-213 or LMR-240 will be fine too. You really don't need to spend so much; just avoid cheap crap - which isn't a bargain in any regard.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Yeah; but just a little over the top . . . ya think?

Perhaps a little but he was very emphatic about wanting the best. 1 5/8 heliax is hard to beat. With such a short run of cable on 27 MHz he could use almost anything and not see a difference if he changed out to the best cable commonly available. The BIG difference comes into play on looooong runs or on VHF/UHF.

 

[dave457]

Lmr 600

 

[Marconi]

I've had real good results running Times Micro Wave LMR 400.

 

[Road Squawker]

I have some waveguide, I will price accordingly.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I have some waveguide, I will price accordingly.

Waveguide? Now there's a good low loss transmission line. Just how big is the RF launcher for 27 MHz anyway?

 

[old goat 321]

• Not trying to hijack the thread, but how does this look for a 125 foot run? Im looking to upgrade. I have 100 feet of RG8X feeding an a99. both of which are around 10 years old. I will be getting my ticket soon and plan on playing 10 meter. As well as 11. For a new antenna, im looking at either a imax 2000 or a spt-500.

Davis RF 9914F Bury-Flex Low Loss Coaxial Cable By The Foot

• 
  
  
  

 

[undertaker]

That will work!!!

 

[Beetle]

• Not trying to hijack the thread, but how does this look for a 125 foot run? Im looking to upgrade. I have 100 feet of RG8X feeding an a99. both of which are around 10 years old. I will be getting my ticket soon and plan on playing 10 meter. As well as 11. For a new antenna, im looking at either a imax 2000 or a spt-500.

Davis RF 9914F Bury-Flex Low Loss Coaxial Cable By The Foot

• 
  

To answer the question, "this" looks about 124 feet short for a 125 foot run.

 

[The DB]

Whats this? No one bothered to mention ladder line? Less loss than all of the above...

Lets throw up some numbers based on this site and assuming a so called "perfect" SWR match and 27 foot run...

Belden 8240, RG-58, 11.076% loss.
Belden 9258, RG-8X, 9.232% loss.
Times Microwave, LMR-240, 7.615% loss.
Belden 8267, RG-213, 6.313% loss.
Belden 9913, RG-8, 3.938% loss.
Times Microwave, LMR-400, 3.869% loss.

And for fun, a few other options that were mentioned as well as some others.

Times Microwave, LMR-600, 2.464% loss.
Andrews Heliax, LDF4-50A, 2.095% loss.
Andrews Heliax, LDF5-50A, 1.147% loss.
Generic 450 Ohm Window Line, 0.916% loss.
Andrews Heliax, LDF6-50A, 0.797% loss.
Generic 600 Ohm Ladder Line, 0.63% loss.

This should help make your decision.

Edit, addition.

Same data for 125 foot run? OK...

Belden 8240, RG-58, 41.872% loss.
Belden 9258, RG-8X, 36.139% loss.
Times Microwave, LMR-240, 30.698% loss.
Belden 8267, RG-213, 26.059% loss.
Belden 9913, RG-8, 16.971% loss.
Times Microwave, LMR-400, 16.697% loss.

And the others.

Times Microwave, LMR-600, 10.91% loss.
Andrews Heliax, LDF4-50A, 9.335% loss.
Andrews Heliax, LDF5-50A, 5.202% loss.
Generic 450 Ohm Window Line, 4.169% loss.
Andrews Heliax, LDF6-50A, 3.638% loss.
Generic 600 Ohm Ladder Line, 2.882% loss.


The DB

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Whats this? No one bothered to mention ladder line? Less loss than all of the above...

Lets throw up some numbers based on this site and assuming a so called "perfect" SWR match and 27 foot run...

Belden 8240, RG-58, 11.076% loss.
Belden 9258, RG-8X, 9.232% loss.
Times Microwave, LMR-240, 7.615% loss.
Belden 8267, RG-213, 6.313% loss.
Belden 9913, RG-8, 3.938% loss.
Times Microwave, LMR-400, 3.869% loss.

And for fun, a few other options that were mentioned as well as some others.

Times Microwave, LMR-600, 2.464% loss.
Andrews Heliax, LDF4-50A, 2.095% loss.
Andrews Heliax, LDF5-50A, 1.147% loss.
Generic 450 Ohm Window Line, 0.916% loss.
Andrews Heliax, LDF6-50A, 0.797% loss.
Generic 600 Ohm Ladder Line, 0.63% loss.

This should help make your decision.

Edit, addition.

Same data for 125 foot run? OK...

Belden 8240, RG-58, 41.872% loss.
Belden 9258, RG-8X, 36.139% loss.
Times Microwave, LMR-240, 30.698% loss.
Belden 8267, RG-213, 26.059% loss.
Belden 9913, RG-8, 16.971% loss.
Times Microwave, LMR-400, 16.697% loss.

And the others.

Times Microwave, LMR-600, 10.91% loss.
Andrews Heliax, LDF4-50A, 9.335% loss.
Andrews Heliax, LDF5-50A, 5.202% loss.
Generic 450 Ohm Window Line, 4.169% loss.
Andrews Heliax, LDF6-50A, 3.638% loss.
Generic 600 Ohm Ladder Line, 2.882% loss.


The DB

You forgot Road Squawker's waveguide. In all fairness however the OP did ask about coaxial cable so I suppose open wire feeders and waveguide are out of the question. Man did he pick a bad day to ask that one. Today everyone seems to be a smart ass and I guess I am as guilty as anyone else. Apologies to the OP on this one. Just go with RG-213 for such a short run. LMR-400 if you want to be anal about losses and my original suggestion of inch and five-eights heliax if you want to be insane about it.

 

[tba02]

At 27 feet the difference between "heliax" and rg8x is only in money spent. Save the cash for a future beam.

 

[543_Dallas]

Beams suck in some situations but everyone seems to want one. Some guys put them up to be the big kids on the block and they end up being handicapped. Sometimes running up the electric bill with a big amplifier works better but the beam is cheaper.

I don't want the guys south of me to strain their ears while I'm talking with them and the guys north of me..or vice versa. If I split the difference I can't hear either of them.