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.

go for it. 8x is just fine for hf unless maybe you are planning to run
1500w rtty ragchewing on 10m on a hot day.

"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.

"Dave" wrote in message
news:Apbdi.3095$015.1604@trndny05...
go for it. 8x is just fine for hf unless maybe you are planning to run
1500w rtty ragchewing on 10m on a hot day.

"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.





My setup now only has the stock radio at 100 watts.

NotMe wrote:

Dave wrote:
go for it. 8x is just fine for hf unless maybe you are planning to run
1500w rtty ragchewing on 10m on a hot day.

NotMe wrote:
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.





My setup now only has the stock radio at 100 watts.


If you're not running l-o-n-g runs at 30MHz, RG-58/U will work fine. It's
rated at 250W up to 30MHz, is widely available, less expensive, and smaller
diameter (0.21" vs 0.25") than RG-8X. It will also allow you to use a
decent easy-to-use crimp-on connector (Amphenol #83-58FCP-RFX). The only
caveat is that some versions of '58 are *really* cheesy -- mainly poor
shielding (as bad as only 60% shield coverage). The better cables will have
95% shield coverage.

Whatever cable you go with, for outdoor use, you'll be smart to use one that
is UV-resistant (sometimes described as having a "non-contaminating
jacket"). You'll also want a stranded center conductor, to handle flexing
better. All RG8X cables are stranded, some other types aren't always
stranded. Davis RF (http://www.davisrf.com/) is a good vendor for coaxial
cable & wire antenna parts -- reasonable pricing and excellent customer
service. However, they don't handle the crimp plugs (Digi-Key has 'em).

73,
Bryan WA7PRC

For a wide range of crimp plugs, check out the RF Industries line at
http://www.rfcoaxconnectors.com and carried by RF Parts,
http://www.rfparts.com I'm not associated with either company, just a
stisfied customer.

73, de Nate

--

"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds,
the pessimist fears this is true."

Nate Bargmann wrote:
For a wide range of crimp plugs, check out the RF Industries line at
http://www.rfcoaxconnectors.com and carried by RF Parts,
http://www.rfparts.com I'm not associated with either company, just a
stisfied customer.

73, de Nate

Their PN RFU-504 appears identical to the Amphenol 83-58-FCP (a couple of
bucks each in their RFX line). The issue with other types of non-soldered
UHF connectors is that they /usually/ require an expensive crimping tool.

73,
Bryan WA7PRC

"Dave" wrote in message
news:Apbdi.3095$015.1604@trndny05...
go for it. 8x is just fine for hf unless maybe you are planning to run
1500w rtty ragchewing on 10m on a hot day.

"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.


I agree, I use rg8x for the wire antennas on the low bands and only use the
larger coax for the triband beam. There will not be a noticable loss
differance at frequencies below 30 mhz. Not sure how much power the 8x will
take but seems ok at the power my sb 200 puts out (around 700 watts). For
runs of over 100 feet and frequencies of 50 mhz and above I use the larger
low loss types.

I have used the 8X for 10 years on 40 and 80 meters with no negatives ...
works fine and if convenient for you it is fine ... I have run 1500 watts at
times and the only concern you might have is a little higher loss factor but
pretty negligible overall ...

I have 500 ft rolls of 8X for $109 and 100 ft runs with silver plated 259
connectors for $34 ....

Tom

WQ5J




"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.

On 17 Jun, 06:34, "NotMe" wrote:
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.

No I wouldn't do that. I would buy a small length where space needs
are cramped
but to allow that small space to extend to a 100 feet to me would be a
NO NO

NotMe wrote:
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.


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.

73,

Chuck

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