Author Topic: Ant. and coax  (Read 5899 times)

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bigunn

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Ant. and coax
« on: February 14, 2012, 06:08:03 PM »
So I have my 2m radio and power supply now I need a ant. Was thinking about getting Arrow OSJ 146-440  or should I get a mag mount and put it on a cookie sheet? And then coax will coax work like they sell at Radio shack already made up , or will I have to make it up myself? The ant I'm thinking about N7TFP did a video on and looks pretty good.

idial1911

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Re: Ant. and coax
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2012, 06:18:06 PM »
I'd get a diamond x50.. The extra gain really helps. Put it in the attic if you have to.
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bigunn

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Re: Ant. and coax
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2012, 07:21:47 PM »
What is a diamond X50 I can mount it on my house I also have a Dipole but I need to measure it I already have it in my garage but some one told me it wouldn't work because of the steel garage door.

scubadivingjoe

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Re: Ant. and coax
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2012, 07:33:06 PM »
Here bigunn

http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-000024

I think i will get one and put that in my attic. 

WA4STO

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Re: Ant. and coax
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2012, 07:35:26 PM »
And then coax will coax work like they sell at Radio shack already made up , or will I have to make it up myself?

Some say that the coaxial cable sold by RS is about the worst you can get.  And getting the connectors soldered correctly is a real chore.  I used to do it myself for many years.  Then I realized, the experts know exactly how to do it right. Me? Not so much...

Myself, I use cable assemblies by Cable Experts.  http://www.cablexperts.com/cfdocs/cat.cfm?ItemGroup=6&itmsub=0&bskt=0&USA_ship=1&c=0

That stuff will set you back about a dollar a foot but it's SO well worth it.

Be cautious about the connector on the antenna end.  Many UHF ham radio antennas will have "N" connectors, not PL-259s.  There's a very good reason for that.  Make sure to order the cable assembly that has the right connectors on each end. 

And do NOT use adapters to go from, say, PL-259 to "N".   


Best 73 de "Luck", WA4STO

AD

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Re: Ant. and coax
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2012, 07:36:25 PM »
I have an X50 and its great.  I also have a mag mount and use it on the car/truck and the BBQ grill for shits and giggles  ;D
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bigunn

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Re: Ant. and coax
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2012, 10:47:41 PM »
OK so one more question how do I go about figuring the length of the cable.

AD

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Re: Ant. and coax
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2012, 11:05:58 PM »
Since your talking UHF/VHF losses for the wrong coax van be BIG.  See this chart
http://www.qsl.net/w2va/coax.htm

Loss for 100 feet
RG-8X at   10   mHz  1.0 dB
RG-8x at   400  mHz 7.9 dB

So for a hf run i uses RG-8X cuz is cheapest amd loss is low. My run from my shack to the stealth Par End Fedz is 75 ft.  For 2m/70cm For that lenght i am lookin at big money if i dont want to wipe out any gain the antenna give me.

Mag mounts usually have RG-8X and are 10-15 feet so the loss is not that great.  YMMV

The only dumb question is the one that did not get asked!!

idial1911

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Re: Ant. and coax
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2012, 11:07:48 PM »
Yea I agree with AD.. I use rg58 for my vhf/uhf, and rg8 for HF.
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