Author |
Message |
Crackshot
Member Username: Crackshot
Post Number: 56 Registered: 10-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2005 - 3:35 pm: |
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I am using some coax that is Belden RG8 50 ohm stuff. Whats weird is when I stripped it, the shield is a silver instead of gold and the center wire is stranded rather than solid. Anyone here of this type of coax? |
Kid_vicious
Advanced Member Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 811 Registered: 9-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2005 - 9:06 pm: |
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its not that uncommon. the center is stranded so that the cable will take being flexed repeated. the braid is still copper, i think! |
Moonraker
Member Username: Moonraker
Post Number: 66 Registered: 3-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2005 - 10:20 pm: |
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I have the same coax in my mobile rig, mine is not double shielded. All of the rg8(mini8) coax that I have seen has a stranded center. I like the stranded coax better, but I quess it is just a matter of opinion. I have ran this coax for a while and have had no problems with it. |
Crackshot
Member Username: Crackshot
Post Number: 57 Registered: 10-2005
| Posted on Thursday, November 10, 2005 - 7:46 am: |
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kid_vicious: I guess than it will work fine for my application. I have it strung overhead from house to shed attached to a cable for support and does get blown around a bit. I seems to not affect SWR in any way, good numbers across all bands. |
Moonraker
Member Username: Moonraker
Post Number: 68 Registered: 3-2005
| Posted on Thursday, November 10, 2005 - 11:21 pm: |
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I remember reading somewhere that the braid of this coax is "tinned" copper. I don't see why this would make a difference, maybe it sells better? |
Outkast
Member Username: Outkast
Post Number: 91 Registered: 9-2005
| Posted on Friday, November 11, 2005 - 10:47 am: |
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Copper is "tinned" to keep it from corroding from moisture. Have you ever seen that el-cheapo truck stop coax witht the clear sheathing? After a good 6 months or so all the wire inside of it is green from corrosion. I think thats all it does, maybe tinned copper is a better conductor?! Outkast CEF 650 |
Hollowpoint445
Advanced Member Username: Hollowpoint445
Post Number: 896 Registered: 6-2004
| Posted on Friday, November 11, 2005 - 9:24 pm: |
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It's much easier to solder. That's my guess. I have some of that cheap coax with clear jacket. I got a partial roll when I bought a box of junk radios and miscellaneous stuff from a guy. After a decade it's still shiny copper, but it's always been inside. |
Moonraker
Member Username: Moonraker
Post Number: 69 Registered: 3-2005
| Posted on Friday, November 11, 2005 - 9:43 pm: |
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Outkast, that makes sense to me. The coax I have has the clear sheathing, but it is belden and seems to be decent coax. |
Chad
Advanced Member Username: Chad
Post Number: 567 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Friday, November 11, 2005 - 10:01 pm: |
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I have some of that, it ain't too bad. It's wrapped around PVC now and getting ready to be a balun |
Outkast
Member Username: Outkast
Post Number: 94 Registered: 9-2005
| Posted on Saturday, November 12, 2005 - 4:12 am: |
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I didnt mean to say all coax with the clear jacket is cheap just the stuff at the truck stops that look like they have very little shielding. I wish more of the good stuff was readily available with the clear sheething, could save lots of head aches with coax problems down the road being able to see if there are any water penetration problems. Moonraker where did you get the clear belden stuff? I might have to check that out. Outkast CEF 650 |
Wildrat
Intermediate Member Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 263 Registered: 12-2003
| Posted on Saturday, November 12, 2005 - 7:55 am: |
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The Flying J Truck stops around here have Belden coax, but they also sell some of a lesser quality. Wildrat CEF674 |