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Equipment Interconnect cables
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Hello,
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In HF service, when running interconnect coax cables from an amplifier outbound, I have always used RG-213 or equivalent from the amp to whatever accessories I was using at the time such as a monitor scope, power meter, ATU, etc. then on to the antenna. Since the interconnect cabling are usually very short lengths, is it acceptable today to use RG-8X for this when running high power or is it standard practice to use the heavier coax?
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73,
Garry |
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I have used RG8X for years without a problem. They are all short and losses immeasurable. The cables out to my antennas from the shack are all RG8 or something like that. Mine have handled 1500 watts just fine. It might not be fine if they were not all into 50 ohm loads. I have an RG8X jumper to my tuner and that is tuned at low power. When 1500 watts hits this RG8X it has a 50 ohm match. I have a neighbor who does the same thing as myself with interconnects with his amplifier, transceiver, VSWR meter, and tuner.? |
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Yes that RG-400 is great and can make sharp bends if need be. Bob W4JFA On Mon, Nov 11, 2024 at 1:58?AM desmond auld GI0UTE via <desauld=[email protected]> wrote:
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开云体育I buy RG-400 jumpers for all my inside the shack interconnections.? Entering the shack, I have a mix of N connectors for Heliax LDF4 Superflex and PL-259 connectors for RG-213 coax for antenna connections/terminations from the outside antennas.? When I buy the RG-400 jumpers I specify the cable connectors for each end to keep from using adapters inside the shack. ? 73, Dave, w6de ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
On Behalf Of Bob via groups.io
Sent: 11 November, 2024 12:32 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] Equipment Interconnect cables ? Yes that RG-400 is great and can make sharp bends if need be. Bob W4JFA ? On Mon, Nov 11, 2024 at 1:58?AM desmond auld GI0UTE via <desauld=[email protected]> wrote:
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开云体育Lots of premade RG-400 cables are at DXE – like this: ? Search for RG-400 ? 73 Tim K3LR @ DXE HQ ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dave w6de
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2024 1:09 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] Equipment Interconnect cables ? I buy RG-400 jumpers for all my inside the shack interconnections.? Entering the shack, I have a mix of N connectors for Heliax LDF4 Superflex and PL-259 connectors for RG-213 coax for antenna connections/terminations from the outside antennas.? When I buy the RG-400 jumpers I specify the cable connectors for each end to keep from using adapters inside the shack. ? 73, Dave, w6de ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Bob via groups.io ? Yes that RG-400 is great and can make sharp bends if need be. Bob W4JFA ? On Mon, Nov 11, 2024 at 1:58?AM desmond auld GI0UTE via <desauld=[email protected]> wrote:
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开云体育Correction to my previous post.? I do not use RG-400 jumpers, I use RG-142 coax jumpers. Both RG-400 and RG-142 have similar specs with the exception of RG-142 has a solid center conductor and RG-400 has a stranded center conductor.? I find the flexibility of the center conductor RG-142 to be suitable for short connections in the shack.? If I were to make a tightly wound choke RG-400 would be the appropriate choice. ? 73, Dave, w6de ? ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
On Behalf Of Dave w6de via groups.io
Sent: 11 November, 2024 18:09 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] Equipment Interconnect cables ? I buy RG-400 jumpers for all my inside the shack interconnections.? Entering the shack, I have a mix of N connectors for Heliax LDF4 Superflex and PL-259 connectors for RG-213 coax for antenna connections/terminations from the outside antennas.? When I buy the RG-400 jumpers I specify the cable connectors for each end to keep from using adapters inside the shack. ? 73, Dave, w6de ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
On Behalf Of Bob via groups.io ? Yes that RG-400 is great and can make sharp bends if need be. Bob W4JFA ? On Mon, Nov 11, 2024 at 1:58?AM desmond auld GI0UTE via <desauld=[email protected]> wrote:
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Holy crap those jumper are over $100 each. Too rich for me. I will stick with RG8X and my stock of PL-259s. This has worked for me many years now. I realize that it should not be used for 1500 watts that has any VSWR on it. My VSWR on my two antennas range from 1.2 to 1.6 on a trapped 75 meter dipole. Those connections are all done with something that looks like RG8 but has some other number on it.?
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I would need jumpers for my VSWR meter and amplifier. I think that comes to 4 jumpers. That would be over $400 dollars from DX Engineering. I know that I am not the only one using RG8X for 1500 watts. My closest neighbor ham is using it.?
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I also have an antenna switch that may have up to a 1.6 to 1 VSWR on it. It is wired with this RG8 looking stuff. I also use the PL-259 quick disconnects adapters. This makes it easy to pull the antenna connections when a storm is coming.?
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I would seriously like to hear if there is a reason why I should not use RG8X the way I am using it. I am always open to ideas and opinions. I fully realize that my own understanding of RF is quite limited. I have worked in design of devices that did not carry RF and were low power low frequency stuff limited to 4 mhz.? |
开云体育The problem with RG-142 is that the solid center conductor is easy to displace when the coax is bent, especially sharp bends, and particularly short lengths such as less than several feet. It's best not to bend -142 short jumpers more than necessary. You can tell when the center conductor is displaced by examining the center pins in the end: it'll be offset on one end compared to the other. (This is especially obvious when BNC or SMA, the most common connectors used with -142, are used.) Otherwise, -142 is a good coax and readily withstands high power. Steve, K0XP
On 11/11/2024 10:44 AM, Dave w6de
wrote:
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See my QRZ.com page at |
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On 11/11/2024 10:57 AM, Michael wrote:
Holy crap those jumper are over $100 each. Too rich for me.Me, too. (It astounds me how some guys who experimented with ferrite and powdered-iron balun and transformer cores awhile back used so much RG-400 for most of them! Where did they find the cash to buy that much of that schtuff... or did they salvage it from work, like I used to do decades and decades ago? 8-) I used to salvage my RG-142 jumpers from old military test equipment; a length that was a couple feet long was a REAL treasure. These days, I treat all of mine as if they were made of platinum; they even have their own storage box 8-) Steve, K0XP |
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Me, too. (It astounds me how some guys who experimented with ferrite and
powdered-iron balun and transformer cores awhile back used so much RG-400 for most of them! Where did they find the cash to buy that much of that schtuff... ?
I have always been lower middle class. There are many hams who have incomes double, triple, or even a lot higher than my own. They can afford to buy the most expensive solutions to setting up a hamshack. So, when something like $108 dollar jumpers are recommended this is reasonable for many hams. I spent my life immersed in my work and not thinking about making more money. I guess I was very lucky in one way. I did not plan for retirement. My civil service job made that plan for me. We have enough income to buy the food we need and keep our home in good repair. I do most of the repairs, but some of them are getting to be outsourced at my age :-)
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Warning O.T. ! I was also very lucky in marrying a childhood sweetheart with whom I grew up. I was always afraid of height. She started putting up my antennas when she was 10. She put up her last antenna when she was 50. She told me that was the last time she was gong to climb a tree for me. I did not have a problem with that after 40 years. Her antenna work got her a job at Raytheon, where she worked on radar and radio antennas because she had no fear of height. She would go up a mast and just unbolt an array and lower it down for replacement without a problem. I did all the technical work on the ships and submarines and she did all the antenna, disassembly, and assembly of equipment. She got paid the same as myself. Going up those masts was considered worth the pay of an FCC licensed engineer. A ship captain reported us to Raytheon because he saw her kissing me after we had done a successful repair. The supervisor at Raytheon corporate told him that we were married and that calmed the captain down a bit. We were a unusual duo doing repair work on Radar, Radio, and Sonar. Back in the 60s, when we wore Raytheon uniforms. It caused quite a stir on a submarine when they found out that they had a woman aboard on a sea trial. She was not recognized as female when she boarded the boat. She was not recognized until we were eating in the wardroom. The captain about choked on his coffee when he realized she was out for full sea trials. She thought it was funny. |
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Years ago I acquired a quantity of 1/4 inch Heliax. I use RG59 adapters for PL connectors and lightly solder the cable to the tip of the adapter. Screw into the PL connector and solder the center conductor. Works great will last forever.
On Monday, November 11, 2024 at 02:38:37 PM EST, Steve <k0xp@...> wrote:
On 11/11/2024 10:57 AM, Michael wrote: > Holy crap those jumper are over $100 each. Too rich for me. Me, too. (It astounds me how some guys who experimented with ferrite and powdered-iron balun and transformer cores awhile back used so much RG-400 for most of them! Where did they find the cash to buy that much of that schtuff... or did they salvage it from work, like I used to do decades and decades ago? 8-) I used to salvage my RG-142 jumpers from old military test equipment; a length that was a couple feet long was a REAL treasure. These days, I treat all of mine as if they were made of platinum; they even have their own storage box 8-) Steve, K0XP |
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Teflon insulation RG-400 and RG-142 coax jumpers are available here:
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73, Dave, w6de -----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Steve via groups.io Sent: 11 November, 2024 19:39 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] Equipment Interconnect cables On 11/11/2024 10:57 AM, Michael wrote: Holy crap those jumper are over $100 each. Too rich for me.Me, too. (It astounds me how some guys who experimented with ferrite and powdered-iron balun and transformer cores awhile back used so much RG-400 for most of them! Where did they find the cash to buy that much of that schtuff... or did they salvage it from work, like I used to do decades and decades ago? 8-) I used to salvage my RG-142 jumpers from old military test equipment; a length that was a couple feet long was a REAL treasure. These days, I treat all of mine as if they were made of platinum; they even have their own storage box 8-) Steve, K0XP |
开云体育Just fabricate the RG-400 jumpers yourself, should not cost you more then 20 bucks each. ? 73 Peter ? ? ? ? -----Original-Nachricht----- Betreff: Re: [ham-amplifiers] Equipment Interconnect cables Datum: 2024-11-11T19:57:38+0100 Von: "Michael" <ironcoder@...> An: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> ? ? ? Holy crap those jumper are over $100 each. Too rich for me. I will stick with RG8X and my stock of PL-259s. This has worked for me many years now. I realize that it should not be used for 1500 watts that has any VSWR on it. My VSWR on my two antennas range from 1.2 to 1.6 on a trapped 75 meter dipole. Those connections are all done with something that looks like RG8 but has some other number on it.?
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I would need jumpers for my VSWR meter and amplifier. I think that comes to 4 jumpers. That would be over $400 dollars from DX Engineering. I know that I am not the only one using RG8X for 1500 watts. My closest neighbor ham is using it.?
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I also have an antenna switch that may have up to a 1.6 to 1 VSWR on it. It is wired with this RG8 looking stuff. I also use the PL-259 quick disconnects adapters. This makes it easy to pull the antenna connections when a storm is coming.?
?
I would seriously like to hear if there is a reason why I should not use RG8X the way I am using it. I am always open to ideas and opinions. I fully realize that my own understanding of RF is quite limited. I have worked in design of devices that did not carry RF and were low power low frequency stuff limited to 4 mhz.?
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$14.50 for a 3 foot cable with free shipping. That's a pretty good deal.
On Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 04:03:54 PM EST, Peter Voelpel <dj7ww@...> wrote:
Just fabricate the RG-400 jumpers yourself, should not cost you more then 20 bucks each. ? 73 Peter ? ? ? ? -----Original-Nachricht----- Betreff: Re: [ham-amplifiers] Equipment Interconnect cables Datum: 2024-11-11T19:57:38+0100 Von: "Michael" <ironcoder@...> An: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> ? ? ? Holy crap those jumper are over $100 each. Too rich for me. I will stick with RG8X and my stock of PL-259s. This has worked for me many years now. I realize that it should not be used for 1500 watts that has any VSWR on it. My VSWR on my two antennas range from 1.2 to 1.6 on a trapped 75 meter dipole. Those connections are all done with something that looks like RG8 but has some other number on it.?
?
I would need jumpers for my VSWR meter and amplifier. I think that comes to 4 jumpers. That would be over $400 dollars from DX Engineering. I know that I am not the only one using RG8X for 1500 watts. My closest neighbor ham is using it.?
?
I also have an antenna switch that may have up to a 1.6 to 1 VSWR on it. It is wired with this RG8 looking stuff. I also use the PL-259 quick disconnects adapters. This makes it easy to pull the antenna connections when a storm is coming.?
?
I would seriously like to hear if there is a reason why I should not use RG8X the way I am using it. I am always open to ideas and opinions. I fully realize that my own understanding of RF is quite limited. I have worked in design of devices that did not carry RF and were low power low frequency stuff limited to 4 mhz.?
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Bob
K6LPM