Chuck wrote in
:

....
As others have pointed out, performance
will be fine. The RG-8X has a foam core
that some have found will deform when
subjected to a sharp bend, changing the
characteristic impedance of the cable.

If you anticipate sharp bends, a solid
dieletric might be preferred. For long
straight runs, the RG-8x is fine.

Yes Chuck. There is an attraction amongst hams for foil / foam coax,
probably driven by the loss figures, but without regard to the many
disadvantages that such a construction brings, or the very poor
implementations of same (not to mention any brands, lest I should be
buried).

Owen

"NotMe" wrote in
:

I need some help me with a decision on which coax to purchase. I'm a
new General Class ham and am planning my HF setup.

The standard coax seems to be RG-8. I'm curious if I use Belden RG-8X
(9258), will there be that much difference in performance at about
100' of coax as compared to using RG-8? I want to use the RG-8X
because the smaller diameter coax will allow me to feed the coax
easier into my house. I suppose I could try to get the RG-8 in the
house, but the place where I want to bring it in only has minimal
space and the RG-8X will fit just right.

NotMe,

The suitability will depend on the frequency, length, mismatch, cost,
physical parameters, and your own threshold for loss.

The line loss calculator at http://www.vk1od.net/tl/tllc.php will allow
you to explore Belden 9258 and nearly a hundred other common transmission
lines.

Whilst RG-8/X is apparently very popular in the US, it is near
unobtainable in Australia... so availability seems to influence
"suitability". But then fewer people here purchase ready made wire
antennas like dipoles, G5RVs, etc which seem to often be packaged with
RG-8/X on US web sites.

Owen

"Owen Duffy" wrote in message
...
,

The suitability will depend on the frequency, length, mismatch, cost,
physical parameters, and your own threshold for loss.

The line loss calculator at http://www.vk1od.net/tl/tllc.php will allow
you to explore Belden 9258 and nearly a hundred other common transmission
lines.

Whilst RG-8/X is apparently very popular in the US, it is near
unobtainable in Australia... so availability seems to influence
"suitability". But then fewer people here purchase ready made wire
antennas like dipoles, G5RVs, etc which seem to often be packaged with
RG-8/X on US web sites.

Owen

Being in the US, I don't know what kind of coax is common in other
countries. The rg-6 is good except for two things, most of it has aluminum
for the shield that will not take solder and it has a solid center
conductor. There seems to be miles of that stuff around that can be had for
almost nothing.
The 8x is about half or less than the cost of the larger coax. Another good
reason for using it if you have several runs of it.

"NotMe" wrote in message
. ..
I need some help me with a decision on which coax to purchase. I'm a new
General Class ham and am planning my HF setup.

The standard coax seems to be RG-8. I'm curious if I use Belden RG-8X
(9258), will there be that much difference in performance at about 100' of
coax as compared to using RG-8? I want to use the RG-8X because the
smaller diameter coax will allow me to feed the coax easier into my house.
I suppose I could try to get the RG-8 in the house, but the place where I
want to bring it in only has minimal space and the RG-8X will fit just
right.

Thanks.
IF you are in a marine environment or where the coax would be subject to
abuse --- consider the # 117 -- RG-8X from The Wireman.
Press recommended this cable to me about 20 years ago -- it is all I use for
portable and home usage -- one tough cable -- easy to solder PL-259 to as
well due to the polypropylene dielectric!
http://thewireman.com/coax.html

w9gb

CQ MINI 8
Marine-Mobile First with a tough 'walk-on' polypropylene dielectric
and tinned copper shield and tinned stranded center conductor, and now with
a tough, long lived, scuff resistant, jacket. #117

On Sun, 17 Jun 2007 17:15:01 -0500, "w9gb"
wrote:

"NotMe" wrote in message
...
I need some help me with a decision on which coax to purchase. I'm a new
General Class ham and am planning my HF setup.

The standard coax seems to be RG-8. I'm curious if I use Belden RG-8X
(9258), will there be that much difference in performance at about 100' of
coax as compared to using RG-8? I want to use the RG-8X because the
smaller diameter coax will allow me to feed the coax easier into my house.
I suppose I could try to get the RG-8 in the house, but the place where I
want to bring it in only has minimal space and the RG-8X will fit just
right.

Thanks.
IF you are in a marine environment or where the coax would be subject to
abuse --- consider the # 117 -- RG-8X from The Wireman.
Press recommended this cable to me about 20 years ago -- it is all I use for
portable and home usage -- one tough cable -- easy to solder PL-259 to as
well due to the polypropylene dielectric!
http://thewireman.com/coax.html

w9gb

CQ MINI 8
Marine-Mobile First with a tough 'walk-on' polypropylene dielectric
and tinned copper shield and tinned stranded center conductor, and now with
a tough, long lived, scuff resistant, jacket. #117


I use his #118 -- a low-loss 8X for non-marine environments. Good
stuff.

bob
k5qwg