the best coax

[thomasbillman1]

i am getting 25ft coax and i want the best, what would you get. its for a base scanner, looking to use the 162.00o to 174.000.

 

[muchomorek]

the LMR-400 is adequate

 

[Blackswan73]

For 25 feet, you are not going to see any difference between LMR 400, and RG 8X, except price. I would go with the 8X, also known as mini 8 for any run under 50'

 

[N2ICV]

For 25 feet, you are not going to see any difference between LMR 400, and RG 8X, except price. I would go with the 8X, also known as mini 8 for any run under 50'

I 2nd that!

 

[Voyager]

i am getting 25ft coax and i want the best, what would you get. its for a base scanner, looking to use the 162.00o to 174.000.

I doubt you want the best, as it's going to run about $1000/ft and be a total bear to run.

Most likely you want something adequate for the run you have. At 25 feet, 1/2" Heliax will have very little loss - even at 800 Mhz. But that will still run about $5/ft.

Personally, I would just stick with RG-6 at that length. The loss at 800 MHz will be about 1.5dB, but unless you want to get the Heliax, this is likely your best bet. 1.5 isn't that much at 800 MHz.

 

[mmckenna]

i am getting 25ft coax and i want the best, what would you get. its for a base scanner, looking to use the 162.00o to 174.000.

1 5/8" Heliax, air core, pressurized with desiccated air. DIN connectors, maybe EIA flange.....


But seriously, like the others said, RG-8, RG-213, LMR-400 would all provide respectable performance for a 25 foot run at those frequencies. You likely wouldn't be able to tell the difference between those cables over that short a distance.
If you haven't terminated coax before, purchase it pre-terminated with the right connector to match your antenna. On the scanner end terminate the cable and then use a flexible jumper to prevent stress on the scanners antenna connector.

 

[n5ims]

Come on folks, this guy wants "THE BEST", not just something practical. Think 6 1/8" rigid coaxial transmission line. Sure it's heavy. It's expensive. It'll handle more power than your home's electrical service will provide. Since it's heavy copper it'll be stolen by those copper thieves. But the loss at 174 MHz over 25 feet is barely measureable, even with the good tools.

Scroll down to the large stuff and dream! http://www.jampro.com/uploads/product_pdf/Catalogs/Rigid-Catalog Template 2015.pdf

 

[zz0468]

Come on folks, this guy wants "THE BEST", not just something practical. Think 6 1/8" rigid coaxial transmission line. Sure it's heavy. It's expensive.

Damn. That's what I was going to suggest.

Don't forget the dehydrator! It'll add a lot to the cost, but your rigid coax will stay shiny on the inside.

 

[teufler]

the heavy cable will eventually wear out or rip out the scanners sma or bnc connectors. He didn't say what scanner but the heavy stuff also does not bend too well. rg8-x would be easier and not real noticeable at 25 ft. he was interested in vhf, not 800, so as coupler have suggested, rg8-x is satisfactory. While, as some have suggested hard line, it a "lab" sense they are correct but we don't want to scare him off with the high cost of hard line. Plus connectors cost $250 or more for the big cables. I mean, if he is married and the wife says, something about the cost, he can say I sold the kids to pay for the coax.