John:

The stuff I am going to use for the VHF/UHF dual-band antenna on the front
of the trailer is some RG8X coax I got from Ham Radio Outlet.  I also have
some RG8X I got from AES a while ago, although it is not brand new like the
HRO stuff.

At any rate, the vhf/uhf installation will be a lot easier to change than
the HF set-up for the back of the trailer, so I can always alter things
easily if needed.

Best 73 from Tom Behler: kB8TYJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 11:18 AM
Subject: Re: question about coax feed lines


> 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
> >>
> >
> >
>