Coaxial cable

[WRWC477]

what would be the best coaxial cable to use for an approximately 75 foot run on an outdoor gmrs antenna with the least amount of signal loss?

[kidphc]

Least amount of loss, aircore hard line. Like heliax. Usually, used on repeaters. Avg $2-7 a foot.

Most commonly used for 100ft. Probably lmr400. Acceptable cost and acceptable losses. Avg $1-4 a foot. You could also look at lmr600, but it gets to aircore levels of stiffness, which can make routing difficult.

Keep in mind the connectors also come into play. Really high quality "n" connectors can average $25 each.

So it's best to set the budget. Your expectations and meet in the middle or what you are comfortable with.




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[KAF6045]

2 minutes ago, WRWC477 said:

what would be the best coaxial cable to use for an approximately 75 foot run on an outdoor gmrs antenna with the least amount of signal loss?

"least amount of signal loss", taken literally -- the largest diameter hardline you can find.

Try out https://kv5r.com/ham-radio/coax-loss-calculator/ and plug in numbers. Obsolete Heliax LDF-6 (and a 1.25:1 SWR) only loses 10%. LMR-400 loses 38%.

[WRWC477]

ok will go to the site you have suggested  thanks

 

[SteveShannon]

18 minutes ago, WRWC477 said:

what would be the best coaxial cable to use for an approximately 75 foot run on an outdoor gmrs antenna with the least amount of signal loss?

You asked a question that results in a very specific answer.  As soon as you use the word "best" without defining what qualities are important to you and as soon as you said "least amount of signal loss" you boxed in the people who might suggest something.

You probably don't really mean "best", although I cannot possibly know for sure.  Most of us cannot truly afford the "best."

You also probably don't truly mean "least amount of signal loss."  Again, I cannot possibly know for sure.

Perhaps you should provide additional information.  Do you have an unlimited budget?  Then by all means lean towards Hardline.  What's your actual communications situation?  

[WRWC477]

that is a big help   saw an ideal 75 ohm and 50 ohm cable but could not find anything on it  everything was very low loss

 

[SteveShannon]

24 minutes ago, WRWC477 said:

that is a big help   saw an ideal 75 ohm and 50 ohm cable but could not find anything on it  everything was very low loss

 

You want 50 ohm. That’s basic. 

[KAF6045]

17 hours ago, WRWC477 said:

that is a big help   saw an ideal 75 ohm and 50 ohm cable but could not find anything on it  everything was very low loss

 

75Ohm (RG-6 and kin) are used by cable TV systems. Among other things, it made it easy to work with old-fashioned TV twin-lead (300Ohm) as one just needed a 4:1 BALUN to convert between the cables.

 

[WRWC477]

Midland Mxt400  but replacing that radio with a Wuoxun kg1000g/g plus.   Midland has 40 watts actual by my meter is 32 watts out.  Want to put up an out door antenna with cable that would last a while.  

[SpeedSpeak2Me]

47 minutes ago, WRWC477 said:

Midland Mxt400  but replacing that radio with a Wuoxun kg1000g/g plus.   Midland has 40 watts actual by my meter is 32 watts out.  Want to put up an out door antenna with cable that would last a while.  

Are you testing the power output going into an antenna or a 50Ω dummy load?  If the former, your measurement might not be accurate.  Use a dummy load with as short of a quality cable as possible.

Best setup would be a PL259 barrel connector directly from the rig to the meter, and the dummy load directly connected to the other side of the meter.  That would take any cable attenuation out of the readings.