I run RG8X on 2 meters and 440 on my packet setup here at the house and in 
my go kit and it works pretty well, as long as you use quality coax, you'll 
be fine for runs that short.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "T Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 11:00 AM
Subject: Re: question about coax feed lines


>    Steve:
>
> That's what I thought, but it's always good to be sure, I guess.  I am
> planning to use RG8X as well for my 2-meter/440 installation in the 
> trailer,
> but that feedline run is even shorter--probably no more than 10 or 15 
> feet.
>
> If it were going to be longer, I'd definitely use different stuff, but the
> thin stuff is necessary because it has to fit into an even smaller area in
> the front of the trailer where the VHF/UHF antenna will be.
>
> Nothing is ever perfect, but hopefully this will all be good enough for 
> what
> I want to do.
>
> 73 and thanks again to all from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 9:41 AM
> Subject: Re: question about coax feed lines
>
>
>> Tom,
>>
>> Line loss is more of an issue as frequency increases, and is of
>> greatest concern on VHF/UHF (2 meters and above).  We could quibble
>> about theoretical differences, but for an HF installation, I don't
>> think you have to worry as long as the cable is good, and your
>> connections have been made carefully.  Besides, it's only a 20 foot run.
>>
>> Steve
>>
>> On Monday 5/22/06 08:19 T Behler wrote:
>> >Hi, all.
>> >
>> >I am finally making progress in terms of getting my new HF Predator
>> >screw-driver-type antenna installed onto my RV travel trailer.  Hope to
> have
>> >it done by this week-end. ... My question is this:
>> >
>> >The person helping to install the antenna has already put Belden RG8X
> coax
>> >on the antenna.  The coax run will be about 20 feet, going from the back
> of
>> >the trailer to the inside where I'll have my Icom 718 HF rig.  We will
> have
>> >the coax running in a PVC conduit which will run along the frame of the
>> >trailer, and the coax will come up through a hole at an appropriate spot
>> >inside the trailer.
>> >
>> >Someone has suggested to me that I really ought to be using thicker coax
> for
>> >this purpose, in order to minimize loss.  I do have a 100 foot chunk of
> RG8U
>> >coax with a foam dialectric that I could get the needed coax from, but
> don't
>> >want to go to all the trouble of re-doing the already-existing
> connections
>> >on the antenna if it really won't make much difference.
>> >
>> >The guy who installed the original coax on the antenna looked Belden 
>> >RG8X
> up
>> >in the ARRL antenna book, and found that it has .7 DB loss per 100 foot
> on
>> >10 mhz, so any loss for a 20-foot run would seem negligible to me.
>> >
>> >Am I ok here, or should I really consider the thicker RG8U stuff?
>> >
>> >I know there are likely to be a variety of opinions on this one, and I
>> >suppose I could always change coax runs later, but I want to try doing
>> >things right the first time if possible.
>> >
>> >Thanks as always for your very helpful advice.
>> >
>> >73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>
>
>