RF cable type - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: enemra
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2023, 04:33:56 pm
content: Hello,I am setting up a HAM antenna on my house terrace. The cable length is going to be around 25 meters from terrace to my transmitter, with max RF power required is 500W. Which RF cable should I choose for the lowest attenuation? Someone suggested me HLF600.Frequencies - 145MHz and 433MHzThanks

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2023, 05:30:59 pm
content: You should be using 5" air dielectric solid copper pipes transmission lines that radio stations use. Does that help?

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2023, 07:04:12 pm
content: Quote from: Bud on October 31, 2023, 05:30:59 pmThe point being: there is a difference between "lowest" and "lowest practical" attenuation.About that HLF600 cable, I found a spec sheet that gives the attenuation at 450 MHz as 5.6 dB per 100 meters. Your 25 meters would lose about 1.4 dB (plus a bit for connectors). There may be better cables, but that's pretty good. LMR-600 seems to be an equivalent cable, and this is often used.

author: enemra
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2023, 07:44:41 pm
content: Indeed, lowest practical and widely used

author: Neomys Sapiens
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2023, 07:48:51 pm
content: You might consider Ecoflex15 from SSB Elektronik or from Kabel Kusch in Dortmund. If you use it, order the specific connectors too.

author: Solder_Junkie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2023, 12:05:15 am
content: Check cables and connectors from Messi and Paoloni. Hyperflex 10 or 13 are really good.Widely available from a number of amateur radio dealers and direct from M&P.https://messi.it/en/home.htmSJ

author: pdenisowski
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2023, 08:36:38 am
content: I've used LMR400 for my weak signal VHF and UHF work and it's a good compromise between price, performance, and ease of use. You can see pics of my weak signal arrays on my QRZ page (near the bottom)https://www.qrz.com/db/KO4LZ

author: enemra
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2023, 12:33:35 pm
content: Thanks for the inputs friends... Helped a lot

author: pienari
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2023, 06:05:23 pm
content: I use most of my antennas RF400 for 1800MHz and 1/4" Belden coax 27 and 70MHz.Old mast was a bit far of my house, 7/8" coax 45m.All performs well.

author: A.Z.
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2023, 07:30:36 pm
content: Quote from: enemra on October 31, 2023, 04:33:56 pmherehttps://messi.it/en/home.htmtheir factory is "in my backyard" and aside that never had issues with their cables, but be sure to lay them out and connect them the RIGHT way

author: MathWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2023, 06:50:47 am
content: Quote from: Bud on October 31, 2023, 05:30:59 pmDo people ever use common 1/4", 1/2" copper pipes for anything hobby RF/etc related? It all must cost a fortune these days.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2023, 08:51:57 am
content: I have a feeling that the pipes suck dimensionally for RF uses where you wanna use an air lineI never saw it used in a coaxial structure. I wanted to do experiments with ducts and such but its kinda out therebut I think if you suspend a 3/8 inch tube inside of a 3/4 inch tube you get something like 45 ohm coaxial line.oh or a 2 inch with a 3/4 inch in it. that is 49 ohms if you go by ID/ODthat might make a sample holder. idk what you would sample or how it would be built exactly but yeah

author: geggi1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2023, 05:08:39 am
content: If it is lenghts under 10m you will have negnectable losses on these frequencies.At 2m you will be under 1dB loss and at 70cm you will be at approxomately 1,5db loss.This can be compensated by using a antenna with 3db more gain.

author: radiolistener
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2023, 05:34:09 am
content: If you're using kiloWatt power at 433 MHz, may be there is a sense to look for waveguides. They have less loss.

author: kj7e
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2023, 09:13:49 pm
content: LMR600 would work well, but 7/8 heliax would work better and would be my choice, if the feed-line would remain static once placed.