HAM: Need some Coax help from those in the know.

[Clark White]

I have a Yaesu 7800R and a Diamond Antenna SG7900. I will be mounting the antenna on the side of my roof rack. I want (I'm told it is the best/close too?) to use RG8X Coax and am planning on building my own cable (I do this every day for a living, so I am confident I can do a good job). However, at work we look in a parts listing for the plane, order a mil-spec part, and never have to research manufacturer or specific versions, so while I can do the work, I'm at a loss what parts to order or where to get them from :smilies27. I know I need a UHF/PL-259 connector on the radio end. I then want to put a panel mount connector in the roof (rather then running through door seals or just having a wire pass through). What panel mount should I use, and what connectors go with that? I thought I could just use an 90* SO-239 (like factory Diamond Antenna coax), but I cant find what connector will thread on to an SO-239 besides the antenna. Then for the antenna, I know I need an SO-239, but I would like to get a 90* like what comes on the factory Diamond Antenna coax, any idea where I can get those from? I'm assuming I want gold plated for these, but I don't know enough about them to know which manufacturer is the best, which versions are best, etc.

Thanks!
Clark

Note: On the planes, we use RG-178? and either mini UHF or BNC, so I don't have anything to compare specific connectors to.

 

[SunTzuNephew]

I have a Yaesu 7800R and a Diamond Antenna SG7900. I will be mounting the antenna on the side of my roof rack. I want (I'm told it is the best/close too?) to use RG8X Coax and am planning on building my own cable (I do this every day for a living, so I am confident I can do a good job). However, at work we look in a parts listing for the plane, order a mil-spec part, and never have to research manufacturer or specific versions, so while I can do the work, I'm at a loss what parts to order or where to get them from :smilies27. I know I need a UHF/PL-259 connector on the radio end. I then want to put a panel mount connector in the roof (rather then running through door seals or just having a wire pass through). What panel mount should I use, and what connectors go with that? I thought I could just use an 90* SO-239 (like factory Diamond Antenna coax), but I cant find what connector will thread on to an SO-239 besides the antenna. Then for the antenna, I know I need an SO-239, but I would like to get a 90* like what comes on the factory Diamond Antenna coax, any idea where I can get those from? I'm assuming I want gold plated for these, but I don't know enough about them to know which manufacturer is the best, which versions are best, etc.

Thanks!
Clark

Not the way I'd do it but how about one of these?

http://www.powerwerx.com/rf-adapters/bulkhead-uhf-female-to-uhf-female-rf-7625.html


Powerwerx is a good place to do business with, also

 

[gary in ohio]

I have a Yaesu 7800R and a Diamond Antenna SG7900. I will be mounting the antenna on the side of my roof rack..

Typically you DONT need to make up your own UHF connector coax assembly., Get a pre-fabbed unit. While the name of the connector is UHF and its similar in size to a pl259 connector you really dont want to screw it into an so239 plug. The "UHF antenna" connector is actually longer. a SO239 is not waterproof. Here is a NMO version of the cable assembly. http://cgi.ebay.com/Antenex-3-4-Hol...in_0?hash=item587f32fda0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Since your going through the roof, USE an NMO mount and if your need a UHF mount, use the adapter. Its going to be a BIG pain trying to keep water out of a panel mount and most s0239 panels are not designed to be outdoors.

The factory diamond antennas is not a standard 90deg connector, its a UHF specific mount for mobile. use.

Normally for UHF/VHF you dont use RG8/RG8x but within a vehicle it works fine for the short distances you need. For home use when your over 50ft lmr400 or rg213/9913 is preferred