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Best Feedline for a QMX?


 

I'm new at QRP, and I want to make every mW of transmission power count. Therefore, what is a good/best feedline to use on an EFHW sloper, up about 30 feet?

Years ago, I had LMR240 for my HF rig, but I wanted to confirm with you experts before I buy it again.

Thanks!

Rich


 

RG-213 has less loss at 14 MHz.
If you are only looking for minimum attenuation then some hardline is the answer but practically that isn't the only requirement.

Do you need it to be portable?? Light?? Flexible?? Cost?? What are your main requirements?? Really though, for HF at 30', even RG-58 isn't bad.

Joshua


 

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I use RG8X myself. Better than RG58 and flexible and less expensive than RG213.

73,
Cliff, AE5ZA



On Aug 4, 2023, at 17:17, Joshua KJ7LVZ <joshuajayg@...> wrote:

RG-213 has less loss at 14 MHz.
If you are only looking for minimum attenuation then some hardline is the answer but practically that isn't the only requirement.

Do you need it to be portable?? Light?? Flexible?? Cost?? What are your main requirements?? Really though, for HF at 30', even RG-58 isn't bad.

Joshua


 

My main purpose will be POTA, so portability is a plus.

-Rich


 

I would/do use RG-58A/U.? It has a solid polyethylene dielectric rather than foam, the center conductor is stranded, and it is cheaper than a lot of other options.? LRM-240 is big, has a foam dielectric, and solid center conductor.? RG-8X has foam dielectric.? Though RG-58A/U can't bend as tightly as RG-8X, I believe it will withstand more abuse due to the solid dielectric.? I may very well be wrong on that.??

At 30ft on 20m you would have something like .66dB loss with RG-58A/U.??

Joshua


 

Rich,

I often eliminate the feedline by using an EFHW antenna or random wire antenna.? I use the K6ARK kits which build the balun right onto the BNC.? No feedline. When I do use coax (dipole or vertical), I keep the coax as short as possible, and use RG-316.? But I'll admit, I'm more often working SOTA than POTA, where lightweight gear is more necessary.?

73,
Walt - KK4DF


 

I strongly suggest LMR600, a good vise to support it so it doesn't flip over the QMX.

;-)

Seriously, Not!!
Any cable with quality connectors, RG316, RG58C/U, RG8X are all good.

I do SSB at 5W on 20M for sport!? ?So don't overthink the idea of low power?
being a handicap.? Just use a decent antenna, high enough.

--
Allison
------------------
Post online only, please no email.


 

600 Ohm Open Wire Line
I do not know of a commercial manufacturer. But you can make it your
self at fairly low cost.? I used Copper Coated Steel wire, nominal 22 gauge.
For spacers I use finned tubular electric fence insulators. They are black
plastic, UV Resistant, about six inches long. Buy skinny eight? inch tie wraps.
You need two tie wraps per insulator. Thread two tie wraps through the
hollow center of the tubular insulator. Butt the insulator up against the
wire, pull the pointed end of insulator around a single conductor of copper
coated steel wire. Do the same on the other end of the insulator using
the second conductor of the copper coated steel wire. Pull the tie wraps
taut until the insulator does not slide up of down the wire easily.? Space
the insulators at about eight to ten inches apart. After making the length
I need, I go back and put a dab of RTV on each end of the insulator to
make it more slip resistant on the wire. Allow the RTV to cure overnight.

Note: The RTV you want to use has an alcohol solvent as opposed to
an acetic acid solvent. Acetic acid solvent RTV are usually the exception
today. but they are around and will leach acid for months. Use of the
alcohol solvent RTV will mitigate the corrosive nature of the acetic
acid solvent product.

Note: The finned tubular? electric fence insulators look like the one in
the photo below. They are six inches long and come in packs of
200. Price is $20.00 from Kencove.????
Another manufacturer is Zareba. They are available in 4 inch and six inch
lengths. The loss is on 2 orders of magnitude less than the best coax and
one order of magnitude less than commercial ladder line.






On Aug 4, 2023, at 6:00 PM, Joe Banks <Mvsopen@...> wrote:


I'm new at QRP, and I want to make every mW of transmission power count. Therefore, what is a good/best feedline to use on an EFHW sloper, up about 30 feet?

Years ago, I had LMR240 for my HF rig, but I wanted to confirm with you experts before I buy it again.

Thanks!

Rich





 

Waveguide is definitely best for QRP Labs rigs.

Albert.