| Author |
Message |
    
Cm3885
Intermediate Member
Username: Cm3885
Post Number: 447
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, June 05, 2004 - 3:18 pm: | 
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Hello.
Got some Cable Xperts coax from the CB shop i go to today.
Is this stuff that good or did i get took? The guy told me it was about the best RG 8 you can get... |
Mikefromms
Intermediate Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 189
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, June 05, 2004 - 7:17 pm: |
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RG-8 is good coax. Don't know if that's the best of the RG 8. Maybe the best the guy had, huh?
mikefromms |
ELCO Guy (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Saturday, June 05, 2004 - 10:50 pm: |
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8x us a good compromise between the standard mobile coax and the larger base coax commonly used. It will not carry as much power as the bigger base coax but it will carry more than the smaller mobile coax. The loss per 100 ft is lower than mobile coax but greater than good base coax. In other words 8x is a very good compromise if you are looking for good quality at a reasonable price.
A tip for ya. When making up connectors remember to get the proper adaptor as the 8x adaptor is slightly larger than the mobile coax adaptor. When soldering the braid to the connector I like to drill out one/just one of the solder holes a bit larger than they come from the factory. I find the bigger hole lets me solder easier. Also use a file to scrape off a bit the plating so the solder sticks better on the surface of the connector.
One suggestion. Tryiing my best not to be too commercial, talk to the good folk at Coppers. I/several of us got together and bought a 500 foot spool from them at a dang good price. We split up the spool and in the process saved a bunch of $$$$$ so check out the good folks at coppers and if you can buy the 500 foot spool a reduced price per foot. PS do not forget to add a few connectors and adaptors to that order.
Signed
That darn ol ELCO guy |
Cm3885
Intermediate Member
Username: Cm3885
Post Number: 448
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, June 05, 2004 - 11:51 pm: |
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Not to sound bad, but I dont usually buy coax, coax connectors, or other small stuff from Copper if I can get it locally at a decent price... I try to get as much of my stuff from my local CB shop if i can if he gets me a decent price that is competitive with Copper. Sorry 'bout that guys!! Saves me a bundle on shippiung and i dont have to wait. The guy is great on getting me what i want and at pretty good prices. We know each other pretty well and he cuts me some really sweet deals from time to time.. :-)
BTW, I didnt get the 8x coax I got the regular RG 8.
Now dont get me wrong, I DO buy the high dollar stuff from Coppers since he is higher on radios and amps and antennas and mikes and meters. Although i did get a new Dosy meter today from him for 75.00....... |
Sarge
Junior Member
Username: Sarge
Post Number: 14
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 8:11 pm: |
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I think everyone missed the point here. The question was about the quality of the RG-8 coaxial cable manufactured and sold by the Cable Xperts company.
"RG-8" is a mil-spec reference that is obsolete (replaced by RG-213). There is no guarantee that all manufacturers make their cable to the RG-8 specs (especially when it is obsolete mil-spec, which leaves a lot of room for the manufacturer to fudge on quality).
In years past there have been examples of shoddy coax with less than 75% braid coverage being sold on the market. Unless you cut back the outside insulation and inspected the quality of the coax it looked similar in appearance to the more expensive and high quality cable.
So the question is not "Is RG-8 coaxial cable a good choice?" But rather, "How is the quality of the RG-8 coax sold by Cable Xperts compared to Belden and other brands?"
I usually purchase Belden-brand coaxial cable, so I cannot comment. Cable Xperts advertises in many ham radio magazines. Amateur Electronic Supply (AES) carries Belden cable as well as Cable Xperts. This makes me believe that the quality is similar if AES is willing to carry it alongside the industry standard of Belden. |
Boxcar
Intermediate Member
Username: Boxcar
Post Number: 286
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 10:29 pm: |
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What's the best coax to use for scanner useage? Maybe say about 100 feet or so??? |
Kirk
Intermediate Member
Username: Kirk
Post Number: 209
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 10:55 pm: |
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3885 I have both Belden and Cable XPerts. What you have is good rest assured. I have had zero problems with mine in the last 2 years and at least 50% (40 ft.) of it is direct buried under the grassline in Michigan....the rest is above and on the tower. Both coax's are side by side (Belden and Cable X). Cable X is a little cheaper in price. I do like their custom 259's on the end. They do a superb job. Highly recommend!--73 |
Ca346
Advanced Member
Username: Ca346
Post Number: 817
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 3:16 pm: |
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I purchased CABLE X-PERTS RG8/U 95% Foam in two 125ft lengths 5 years ago (1999). I use it for the Lightning 4+ dual polarity antenna. Never had any problems, but I don't push much power through it (200W max). It's very heavy. My tower specs recommended 'balancing' coax on all three sides going up and down. I'm also running the smaller coax for the other stuff... I liked the quality of the connectors on the CABLE X-PERTS and the heat shrink on the ends. |
