• To anyone looking to acquire commercial radio programming software:

    Please do not make requests for copies of radio programming software which is sold (or was sold) by the manufacturer for any monetary value. All requests will be deleted and a forum infraction issued. Making a request such as this is attempting to engage in software piracy and this forum cannot be involved or associated with this activity. The same goes for any private transaction via Private Message. Even if you attempt to engage in this activity in PM's we will still enforce the forum rules. Your PM's are not private and the administration has the right to read them if there's a hint to criminal activity.

    If you are having trouble legally obtaining software please state so. We do not want any hurt feelings when your vague post is mistaken for a free request. It is YOUR responsibility to properly word your request.

    To obtain Motorola software see the Sticky in the Motorola forum.

    The various other vendors often permit their dealers to sell the software online (i.e., Kenwood). Please use Google or some other search engine to find a dealer that sells the software. Typically each series or individual radio requires its own software package. Often the Kenwood software is less than $100 so don't be a cheapskate; just purchase it.

    For M/A Com/Harris/GE, etc: there are two software packages that program all current and past radios. One package is for conventional programming and the other for trunked programming. The trunked package is in upwards of $2,500. The conventional package is more reasonable though is still several hundred dollars. The benefit is you do not need multiple versions for each radio (unlike Motorola).

    This is a large and very visible forum. We cannot jeopardize the ability to provide the RadioReference services by allowing this activity to occur. Please respect this.

the best coax cable base station antenna?

Status
Not open for further replies.

wpwx694

Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2005
Messages
424
Location
Navasota, TX.
which is better RG 58a/u, rg8u or rg 8x for cb ssb radio base

I have Solarcon A-99 Antenna and a Cobra 148GTL
 
Last edited:

jim202

Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
2,729
Location
New Orleans region
what about RG6U


That would depend on what the design of the antenna was. Most antennas are made around a 50 Ohm impedance and not the 75 Ohms that the RG6 cable is built for. If it is only for receiving, your probably OK. But for transmitting, your not going to be able to get a low SWR.
 

n5ims

Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2004
Messages
3,993
The missing piece of information we need is how long of a run are you going to have. The answer for a 25 foot run may not be the same as one that's 250 feet long.

RG-213 is in the RG-8 family and is a bit better quality and somewhat lower loss than standard RG-8 (much better than some low quality junk RG-8 some folks may be selling). Check the specs on your coax. What you want are high sheld coverage (100% or close is best, 85% is crap), low loss (search for "Coax Loss Calculator" to compare the values) although at CB frequencies the differences will be minor, easy to find and attach connectors of the type you need (generally PL-259 for CBs), then size and flexability (read ease of installation) although better types will be the larger and lesser types smaller.

For a standard CB install my choices would be (best to worst) for the given choices:

1. RG-213
2. RG-8 (quality stuff, not some cheapo no-name brand or store brand that buys from whomever sells for less at the time).
3. RG-8x
4. RG-58 (quality stuff, not some cheapo no-name brand or store brand that buys from whomever sells for less at the time).
5. RG-6 (as was indicated you'll have higher SWR and connectors may be harder to find/attach)
 

n5ims

Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2004
Messages
3,993
it will be 15 or 20 foot

At that length nearly any standard 50 ohm coax should work fine (read that quality coax, not cheap junk coax though!). This assumes you'll be running legal power (doesn't everybody?). If you do run a "kicker" you'll need to consider the power handling capabilities of your coax as well. Chances are the RG-8 series or even RG-8x will easily handle the extra power, but RG-58 may or may not. Check the specs of what you're getting to be sure.
 

GTR8000

NY/NJ Database Guy
Database Admin
Joined
Oct 4, 2007
Messages
15,417
Location
BEE00
Get a roll of 3M rubber splicing tape. Wrap all outdoor connections with the tape a few inches past the connectors, then wrap over that with some quality electrical tape like 3M Super 33+ vinyl.

http://amzn.com/B00004WCCK
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top