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Coax cable BR-8X, good or mediocre?

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SnowWalker

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Just hooked up with "ladyluck" at a radio shop in Winnipeg Manitoba and was looking for a 50 OHM . 25' coaxial for my 21' roof top vertical CB antenna. I was told by one of their technicians that the -Low Loss- Double Shield -BR-8X- is a better grade of coax than the standard RG-58 coaxial. Should I buy the BR-X8 or go for for the standard RG-58 cable?
 

prcguy

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BR-8X shows up as a double shielded RG-58A/U cable marketed by Browning. For what your using it for the double shielding does nothing and its got the same loss per foot as any other low loss RG-58.

The next step up would be RG-8X, which is slightly larger than .25" dia but does have lower loss than RG-58. Probably the best coax in this size range is LMR-240, its the same size as RG-8X and has the lowest loss and highest power handling of the small coax cables you would use for CB or amateur use.
prcguy
 

SnowWalker

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Thank-you prcguy. The shop has LMR-240 but will sell min of 50' only. The other problem was the 259 connectors. Nothing in stock to fit the cable.

Thanks again
 

prcguy

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There is a common adapter that allows a standard PL-259 to fit LMR240 and RG-8X. It seems odd that a shop would have the cable but not the adapter. If you were local to me and only needed a short run I would just give you a chunk of LMR240.
prcguy

Thank-you prcguy. The shop has LMR-240 but will sell min of 50' only. The other problem was the 259 connectors. Nothing in stock to fit the cable.

Thanks again
 

cmdrwill

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There is a common adapter that allows a standard PL-259 to fit LMR240 and RG-8X. It seems odd that a shop would have the cable but not the adapter. If you were local to me and only needed a short run I would just give you a chunk of LMR240.
prcguy

Correct, the threaded adapter for the PL259 connector IS the same as the one for RG59 cables, but the shiled in the LMR cables is hard to solder.. The crimp type 'pl' type connectors are much better and come in RG8X/LMR 240 size. You can buy the cable length you need with the correct connectors installed most places.
 

mmckenna

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Just hooked up with "ladyluck" at a radio shop in Winnipeg Manitoba and was looking for a 50 OHM . 25' coaxial for my 21' roof top vertical CB antenna. I was told by one of their technicians that the -Low Loss- Double Shield -BR-8X- is a better grade of coax than the standard RG-58 coaxial. Should I buy the BR-X8 or go for for the standard RG-58 cable?

If this is for a base station at your home, you can do better than RG-8x, LMR-240, etc. Those are commonly used in mobile installs.

RG-8, RG-213, LMR-400, etc. would all be better and shopping around should find some cheap prices on line.
 

SnowWalker

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If this is for a base station at your home, you can do better than RG-8x, LMR-240, etc. Those are commonly used in mobile installs.

RG-8, RG-213, LMR-400, etc. would all be better and shopping around should find some cheap prices on line.

The coax is for the roof antenna. I'll have a look tomorrow before we hit the road for home.

Thank-you mmckenna
 

JayMojave

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Yeah what they said: Good advice.

Jay in the Great Mojave Desert... Miss Dinahs fillin station Hardware and Market has really great prices on heavy Jackets for winter, gas prices still a little high. 22 ammo now available.
 
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