stranded center vs. solid center coax ???

[BOOTY MONSTER]

im debating about what new coax to get . ive been using belden 8x and havnt had any issues , but im at a new location now . im considering getting the big stuff with the foil for %100 shielding . if i go the big stuff ive narrowed it down to davis bury flex (with a stranded flexable center conductor) and regular times microwave with the solid center . BTW , the real times microwave lmr-400 , not one of the lmr-400 "equivalents" . each can be had for 85-87 cents a foot and id be getting 60-62 feet and using a 4 inch diameter former for a coax choke .itll just be used on a omni antenna so no flexing for a rotor is needed . i do like to tinker with my stuff though and im wondering just how stiff the solid core stuff is . how likely is it that i could i break the center conductor flexing it too much like solid house wiring ?

im not %100 sure i wont stick with 8x or a %100 foil shielded 8x since i only run 200 watts max and only do the CB band . i may get a 2950dx in the future for 10 and 12 meters but thats not far enough off the cb band to matter coax wise . as ive mentioned many time here money is always tight for me and id like to have some idea if the extra cost over belden or browning 8x will buy me some detectable change . and no im not expecting to get out better , i was thinking/hoping more along the lines of better ears/less noise or being less likely to bleed into nearby electronics .

thanks

 

[Robb]

Basic electrical principals state that a multi-stranded wire can deliver more due to the surface area of all of the strands as opposed to one large single strand. That is - since current flows on the outer surface of each individual strand. And of course, more flexibility as well.

 

[loosecannon]

LMR400 is pretty darn stiff.

like you can bend a curve in it and it will basically stay that way.

you also cannot bend it around a 4" diameter form.
8" is the minimum for LMR400.

the thing about solid center conductors is that repeated twisting and bending could sever the conductor.

i have had mine for 4 years now, and used it on two different antenna installs.
its still working just fine.

in your situation with only using around 60 feet of coax, the only reason i could see for you to step up would be to reduce the chances of TVI/RFI.



if it were me, i would use LMR240 UF.
its the same diameter as your RG8x, will wind around a 3" form, is double shielded, and you only lose 1.6db per hundred feet.

here is some info on it:
http://www.timesmicrowave.com/content/pdf/lmr/58-59.pdf

LC

 

[W5LZ]

I'd have to agree with 'loosecannon', there really isn't much point for LMR-400 at 11 meters. What little "gain" in the loss department isn't going to be noticeable. If this will be a permanent installation, don't ever figure on changing it, then 'stiff' coax is a possibility. If there would ever be much moving it around, I think I'd go with the more flexible stuff.
As for the stranded conductors carrying more current than the solid conductors, that's true to some extent. But there will not be enough difference to make any difference with the typical installation. A few tenths of an amp (if you're lucky) is just not going to make any noticeable different in power carrying ability (if you can supply that current to start with).
Going a little 'extra' seldom hurts anything. Going a lot 'extra', if it's usable, is worth it, but first it has to be usable.
- 'Doc


(If it were VHF/UHF I'd do the LMR-400. For HF, don't bother.)

 

[BOOTY MONSTER]

thanks guys . i was thinking the big stuff would be over kill for my particular install . im still kinda hung up on the foil/%100 shielding though .

is WireMan coax any good ? i was looking at their 118 8x coax .

The WireMan - Coaxial Cable
"low loss 8X-type coax, with foil plus tinned copper shield, micro-cell foam dielectric, and now with a great new, tougher, higher temperature, UV resistant jacket."
http://www.thewireman.com/coaxdata.pdf

its 35 cents a foot or 100 feet for 30 bucks . it looks that it would be a better alternative than typical belden or tramflex 8x coax . i know figgures dont lie , but i also know liers can figgure . if im gonna do new 8x coax is wireman a decent/honest vender and should this 118 coax do a good job for my modest needs ?

 

[hotrod]

ive been told many yrs ago dont skimp on antenna or coax
that theory has been true for me so far for past 16-17 yrs
sowith that said
lmr400= any groundplane/omni
lmr400 flex= beams/directional
know i know its cb band and only 60 ft. but i like to get
every advantage i can get ,even if its gonna be just a minor one
but i can relax knowing im doing the best i can with what i got.
no wondering well what if i went with slightly better coax cause i already did

 

[loosecannon]

from what i can find, "the original wireman" is operated by a man named Press Jones N8UG.

he has written a series of books called "the wire book".
Wirebook V by Press Jones N8UG

seems like a reputable place, but i have never dealt with them.

good price on that coax you want too!

i say go for it.
LC

 

[DXman]

is WireMan coax any good ? i was looking at their 118 8x coax .

Booty Monster,
I have been using the 118 coax for the last 2 yrs and it seems to work just fine. The only difference that I can see between it and LMR400 is, the foil is "bonded" on 400 where it's just "wrapped" on the 118 that I have.
For the short distance that you are going, I would shoot for the 118......

 

[Mr Clean]

Love the 9914f buryflex so far. Very flexable and outer coating looks to be very strong. I will know more soon. Starting to use it tomorrow.

 

[pro151]

Booty, I bring my coax into my shack and terminate it into a switch and then reduce size from that point to the various radios, amps, etc.
This way my primary feed line is never moved or messed with. The switch I use also has an "Off" position to take the antenna off line if so desired.

 

[rabbiporkchop]

coaxial

Solid for performance-stranded for convenience. Less attenuation with solid.

 

[GnG8d]

LMR400 is pretty darn stiff.

like you can bend a curve in it and it will basically stay that way.

you also cannot bend it around a 4" diameter form.
8" is the minimum for LMR400.
LC

Times Microwave claims a 1" radius for permanent "installed" and 4" radius for "repeated" use. Seems a little tight to me, but they make the stuff, I don't.

 

[hookedon6]

seems like a reputable place, but i have never dealt with them.

good price on that coax you want too!

i say go for it.
LC

i have purchased from him/ his represenatives, over the internet and face to face. i've never had any problems at all. he's a frequent seller at just about any hamfest in the south east. great company

 

[KingCobra_CDX882]

I would suggest a Minimum of LMR400 on anything beyond 50 ft..
that 9914 is good..

I go a bit further in that for hf i use LDF5-50A
hardline is indeed better (but quite costly and hard to use)

 

[W4KVW]

WIREMAN

All except one run of coax here is WIREMAN FLEXI4XL.Some of them were bought NEW in 1994 & are still in use now.Very small change in velocity factor & NO change in SWR.VERY flexible even today & used with a rotor all these years! GREAT stuff & it's all I buy for HF thru VHF here!ALL are stranded. :drool:

73,
SIX-SHOOTER