On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:53:12 -0500, Bob wrote:

The suggestion was made that the common RG-6 that is everywhere would do
me just fine, as I'm talking about about 3 foot patch cord lengths.

Hi Bob,

Then RG-174 would work just as well - if you wanted something very
thin and flexible.

However, the common application of the term "patch cord" is a short
connector to a variety of very much longer transmission lines. If
that is the sense of "patch cord" that you mean, then your longer
lines, for your range of frequencies, should be very large diameter
cables. There the impedance doesn't really matter that much - so go
for biggest/cheapest.

Think this would do me O.K. as the lengths are only 3 feet, and
listening only ?

OK, so this is twice you have mentioned the 3 foot criteria. And you
have mentioned lengthS (not length) as though you need many.

Two questions arise:
1. Why do you need many?
B. How far away is/are your antenna/s?

Or, too cheaply made probably, and I should try to find somewhere a
better quality ?

You haven't described any problems that demand quality.

They all use these F connectors.

They usually get by quite well under normal circumstances with them.
As you have not described any abnormal circumstances, you would get by
quite well with them too.

Guess I'm old fashioned, but they "scare" me a little not having a
"real" center pin.

Close your eyes, take a deep breath, calmly insert and tighten the
fittings.

Any reluctance to using them ?

Not when they are appropriate.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC