Draka Cable

[taco6513]

I am needing some professional feedback. The person's tower that I am waiting on to move some LDF7-50 from another tower to the 199 tower that will some day have my repeater atop. I have been waiting for 6 months for this to happen. I am still getting excuses on why this still hasn't happened yet.

 

I have reached out the in internet and started shopping for a 225' piece of LDF7-50. I know that this product was discontinued some years ago. The person I talked to said to go with "Draka" cable. This is 

made in Finland. The specs look comparable to Andrews cable.

 

Need some feedback on the "Draka" brand cable.  First hand knowledge preferred.

 

Thanks 

WRCW870

[berkinet]

Draka has a lot of coax products. Which ones in particular were you interested in?

 

https://www.drakauc.com/products/multimedia-specials/coaxial-cables-2/

[taco6513]

Option #1:  RFA 1 5/8”-50 NKRFA15800

Option #2:  RFA 2 1/4”-50 NKRFA21400

 

Is this the information you need?

[berkinet]

I do not have personal experience with Draka brand coax. Though, I’d assume it is probably as good as most coax in the market. However, anyone who does have personal experience will need to know the information you just provided to respond to your request, that’s why I asked.

[n4gix]

Commscope recommends this as a direct replacement for what you seek:

 

Replaced By:

AVA7-50

AVA7-50, HELIAX® Andrew Virtual Air™ Coaxial Cable, corrugated copper, 1-5/8 in, black PE jacket (Halogen free jacketing non-fire-retardant)

 

https://www.commscope.com/catalog/cables/product_details.aspx?id=1309

 

It's certainly not inexpensive most places, but this company is selling it brand new for $3.95/ft

That would be $888.75 + shipping.

http://www.surplusserver.com/products/Antennas-Coax/246/Andrew_AVA7-50_Heliax_Coax_Cable.html

[taco6513]

Surplus server is who is selling the Draka cable.

[Jones]

Andrew LDF7-50 was replaced by Andrew/ComScope AVA7-50.  1-5/8 line.

 

At only 225 feet, you might be just as well off with a less expensive, and much lighter weight AVA5-50 7/8 inch line.

[JohnE]

at 225 feet your losses wold be roughly

1dB for the 1 5/8 spec  0.44/100' loss

1.8 for the 7/8  spec 0.8/100' loss

assuming 50W into the cable here is what you would have at the other side

39-40 W  1 5/8

33-34 W  7/8

again these are book specs your mileage may vary.

[taco6513]

I want that .8db's of gain to my DB420 antenna. Every little bit helps when you are using walkie-talkies. 

Go big or  go home!

I don't think the AVA7-50 is the same quality as the LDF7-50 was. I may have a line on some NOS LDF7-50.

 

WRCW870 

[JohnE]

ERP 388W 1 /58

         346W 7/8

and 400 for the fat 2 1/4 based on 50W into the cable

again your mileage may vary.

also assuming it is going to be a strait duplexer you have an additional 0.8 to 1.5 dB of loss as well as loss for the jumpers required to put it all together.

best case scenario would be in the 27-30W at the top making your ERP ~275-300w

just sayin'

good luck w/poject.

JE

[n4gix]

I don't think the AVA7-50 is the same quality as the LDF7-50 was. I may have a line on some NOS LDF7-50.

You are right! AVA7-50 is not the same quality as LDF7-50...

 

...it is better!

 

Product Alert: AVA7-50 Heliax Coaxial Cable is 100% Copper jacketed and center conductor cable. It is not to be comfused with lower cost and quality Aluminum jacketed cables. It is a step up from the old standby LDF7-50A (discontinued or special order only,) featuring lighter weight and lower losses at all operating frequencies. This cable is the darling of cellular and commercial broadband infrastructure providers worldwide.