What is RG-58C and RG-58C/U? I've heard of RG-58A and RG-58A/U but not RG-58C or C/U.
Okay, RG-174 kinda lossy. Maybe I should look for an antenna that uses different coax.
Any idea what the lowest loss coax I could get would be? Just curious.
RG-213 Mil spec?
So impedance is a non issue with receivers? Wouldn't a mismatch cause standing waves that would impede incoming signals?
That'd be nice having free pickings at the sattelite installation.
Is there any bad effects from using different grade feedlines connected together?
Indeed, I listen to 800 MHz regularly.
What is RG-58C and RG-58C/U? I've heard of RG-58A and RG-58A/U but not RG-58C or C/U.
Okay, RG-174 kinda lossy. Maybe I should look for an antenna that uses different coax.
Any idea what the lowest loss coax I could get would be? Just curious.
RG-213 Mil spec?
So impedance is a non issue with receivers? Wouldn't a mismatch cause standing waves that would impede incoming signals?
That'd be nice having free pickings at the sattelite installation.
Is there any bad effects from using different grade feedlines connected together?
Indeed, I listen to 800 MHz regularly.
Any coax with less loss is going to be thicker. RG-58 and RG-59 are about as thick as you want to get in a mobile installation especially with a mag mount.
RG-58C/U was used years ago for 10base2 Ethernet. It is much more flexible than the other RG-58. Due to some differences in overall design, it is a bit more lossy than the other versions of RG-58. Sometimes it is used for short runs in radio applications. I have used it due to its flexibility for the 2 meter band and HF in short lead-in runs.
We are really starting to get into the weeds here, but your questions are valid concerns.
A mismatch of impedance does have an effect on receive, but not exactly the same way as transmit and not nearly as detrimental. Any mismatch causes some loss of transfer of energy.The reality is, that antenna will not present a 50 ohm load across the entire range of frequencies that it is itended to be used for. If a had to guess, I would imagine that for the range of frequencies it is designed to be used for, if you were to check it at various frequencies in that entire range the impedance would swing from a few ohms to hundreds or more. It can only present a 50 ohm load at the frequencies in which it is resonate, which for a multiband will be maybe 2 or more depending on design. An antenna for a very wide band of frequencies is a compromise. If you want the best performance, you would have to pick a single frequency or a narrow band and choose an antenna tuned for that.
Regarding standing waves or VSWR values, it will surprise many to know that a 1:1 ratio which is not going to happen in any antenna system, is not much better than 1.5:1. At 1.5:1 the loss is only 4% of the transmitted power to the antenna besides any loss due to attenuation in the cable. A VSWR of 2.0:1 causes a loss of 11%.
I am not sure what you may mean about different grade of feed lines. If you mean quality, probably not depending on how poorly the cable is made. If you mean mating different impedances of feed lines connected together, you can probably do just fine mating a length of 50 ohm to a length of 72 or 75 ohm for receive. Sometimes it is done on purpose to transform impedances.
RG-213 is an excellent cable, but quite thick and excessive for a short run in a mobile situation where it is not practical to use. I have a lot of it for HAM radio use.
RG58 is just fine for short runs in a mobile situation even at 800 Mhz. For 16ft of RG-58 at 800 MHz the loss is 2.2db. Not great, but not terrible either. The same length of RG-174 is 4db loss. If your main target is 700 or 800 MHz, you would be best off with an antenna for those bands that has a bit of gain which will compensate for the loss in the cable. In which case you would probably need to look at an antenna designed for a mobile transceiver, rather than one designed for a scanner to get something good.
Maybe something like this, but it will of course be more expensive. You will have to purchase a separate mount for it.
Laird B8065 Antenna, 806-866 MHz, 5db Gain | Scanner Master
Although that antenna is designed for 806-866 MHz, I imagine it will work just as well down in the 700MHz band for receive. A 1/4 wave antenna at 769MHz is 3.65 inches, and at 866 MHz it is 3.24 inches. Not a lot of difference. It would only matter for a transmitter.
Then there is this one for 136-174/380-520/760-870 , but that one is really expensive.
Laird Multi Band Mobile Antenna | Scanner Master
You can see why I tried an antenna like you had picked and added an inline amplifier, It was much cheaper. I also did not want a large mag mount on the trunk of my Acura TL. The smaller magnet is not discoloring the paint. And the trunk groove is oddly shaped and will not accept a trunk groove mount. I am still trying to find an alternative for a couple of HAM radio antennas.
Laird are very high quality, but Maxrad are decent. This one will need an NMO mag mount.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PCTEL-Maxr...017787?hash=item33e4ec367b:g:x1UAAOSwXJFaqphb
BTW. DO you have, or know someone with an old mag mount cellular antenna? Those were deigned for 800Mhz. And most of them were 3db gain. You will have to change the connector on the cable or convert it from the Motorola connector to a BNC.