HAM Radio antenna cable types?

[akraven]

Newbie question here. I am getting ready to install a iCom 75watt V8000 2m radio on my Landcruiser. There are multiple types of coaxial cable to run from the radio to the antenna. I have searched here and at various HAM sites and am not finding a clear answer as to what is best. Anybody have any thoughts?
A local commercial electronics place has RG-58A but HAM is not their specialty. This is an in dash install and I don't want to have to pull it out again if its wrong. Do it right the first time and be done with it. Thank you for any help you can offer!!!!

 

[gary in ohio]

With a VHF radio and a reasonable short distance you need to make the cable. most cables will work. When selecting cables you need to take into account power levels, distance and frequency it will be used in.

For a VHF radio in a vehicle install quality RG8x is a good choice, It will handle the power reasonable flexible for tight turns in a vehicle. Rg8x is good for HF runs under 100ft, VHF to 50ft at power levels to 200watts.

For home use a RG213/9913 cables or LMR 400 is good for most typical ham use on any band. Once you get past a 200ft you need to pay more attention to cable losses.


Do keep in mind a RG58a cable from one vendor may not preform as well as rg58a from another vendor. You need to look at %braid on the cable and insulator between the inter and outer cable.

First recommendation, Avoid radio shack cables. Those cheap crimp on connectors are junk. Find a cable with 95% braid/shield or double shielded. Find a cable with a solid "poly" center insulator, not just a tube the wire is strung through.


There are a number of ham radio stores that you can order cables from. AES, HRO, Universial, and R&L just to name a few..

 

[Driver-Navigator]

Agreed. RG58 should be fine for your application.

Keep the cable as short as you reasonably can, while making sure you can easily make the connection without having to stretch the cable or make shortcuts. I'd rather have it be a couple of feet too long than have stress on the connectors, having to an an extension, or other issues.

Get a quality cable, and try to get one with the right connectors on both ends to avoid the need to use an adapter.

Good luck, and DVC to the raven...

 

[SunTzuNephew]

Depending on the antenna you are using, the antenna base probably already has quality cable attached at the base, and a quality connector ready to solder on the other end.

Larsen and Motorola (brand) antenna bases all do. If you're going to use a ball mount you will need to build the cable from scratch.

For example: http://www.larsen-antennas.com/docfiles/ASB9/SalesSheets/NMOHFMounts.pdf (don't let the 'low frequency' designation scare you, they mean below 1700 MHz).

 

[akraven]

Well here was my thought. Since I am installing in the dash I was going to put a "pigtail" piece on that would come out below the dash. It would have a fitting in it and then attach the rest of the cable to that. This would allow me to be able to undo the fitting after install and put on the SWR meter to check and tune the antenna. I saw it mentioned somewhere on the web and thought it would work good since it would easier to hook up while tuning. Any problems with that thought? Thank you all for the help.

 

[Driver-Navigator]

Each additional connector/adapter will add a little signal loss, so in theory you want to minimize those. For normal 2m mobile, I would trade the slight loss (one additional connector) for the increased versatility. Especially if it lets you avoid taking apart the dash again at some point.

 

[SunTzuNephew]

Well here was my thought. Since I am installing in the dash I was going to put a "pigtail" piece on that would come out below the dash. It would have a fitting in it and then attach the rest of the cable to that. This would allow me to be able to undo the fitting after install and put on the SWR meter to check and tune the antenna. I saw it mentioned somewhere on the web and thought it would work good since it would easier to hook up while tuning. Any problems with that thought? Thank you all for the help.

That will work - some radios come that way. If you use a typical NMO type antenna base, you can most likely just cut a piece of the cable off and put the connectors on it - I've rarely felt they shorted me on coax.

However, installing an SO-239 cable connectors (the other end of a PL-259) are not as easy as the PL-259, and they are hard to find for cable ends (chassis is much more common). If you put a PL-259 on and use a barrel connector then you've added two more connectors. It can be done (and I've even done it myself), but for best performance use high-quality silver or gold plated, teflon Amphenol connectors. I'd also put some silicone grease in the barrel connector pin holes, to minimize corrosion, and tighten them down fairly snug.

 

[akraven]

I will check around for those connectors. Probably will have to be a special order thing. We don't have a wide choice up here of stores for the really special stuff. Thank you all agin for the help. My test is next week so wish me luck.

 

[SunTzuNephew]

I will check around for those connectors. Probably will have to be a special order thing. We don't have a wide choice up here of stores for the really special stuff. Thank you all agin for the help. My test is next week so wish me luck.

Good luck!

And buy some extra (cheap) connectors and find some cheap coax, and practice soldering on them.

Also, don't forget that the PL-259s are sized for the coax you are using, get the right size. There are also vinyl boots that you can put on to act as strain relief.

 

[akraven]

Will do. Thank you!!