Most important thing to keep in mind, the antenna system is about 90% of 
your success. The best radio with a bad antenna system will be horrible 
while the worst radio with the best antenna setup will get out like gang 
busters and the coax is key to the antenna system. Again, the best antenna 
with cheap coax will kill your signal both ways. As was said in the prior 
message, Coax is not a place to be cheap. I've run a lot of different coaxes 
over the years and waste a lot of money as I learned when I upgraded to what 
I have now, the differences can be noticeable. It's not worth it to use 
cheaper coax, even if that means you have to wait a few more months to save 
up for better stuff. In my first message, I mentioned the minimums of what 
I'd do if it were me. There are good coax loss calculators on the internet, 
you can see the differences when you try the various coax types on the 
various frequencies there and you look at some numbers and say "no wonder I 
noticed the difference there".
The point about how you're going to run it is a great one as well, some just 
won't take direct burry and I know people who've had to go out and tear up a 
lot of coax because of that after a few months or a year. With a 200 foot 
run, I'd bury it so that's something too you have to think about.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Forst" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 11:38 AM
Subject: Re: coax and loss


> Gery,
>
> I won't rehash all the info you have already gotten, but I  will suggest
> that  while hams are cheap, this is no place to  go the el-cheapo route.
>
> Another thing to consider is how is the  coax going to get from point A (
> your shack) , to point B ( the tower)? Bury it, either direct or in a
> conduit?  Lay it on the ground?  Or  support it  above ground?   Pros and
> cons to all of these, just be sure your coax is rated for the one you
> choose.  Not all is rated for direct burial, and some have jackets that 
> are
> more uv resistant than others.
>
> How many antennas are planned?  Some guys run hardline or very low loss
> coax to the tower and use a remote coax switch to select between antennas
> and limit the number of long coax runs between shack and tower.
>
> For what it's worth, I've had good luck with Davis RF Bury-Flex.   Low 
> loss,
> direct bury, tough jacket, and reasonable price.
>
> 73, Steve KW3A
>
>