Swr cable length help

[darticus]

I have a 6 foot cable to use between my meter for SWR and the CB. Is this cable too long or will this be fine. I know some use shorter but this is what I have. Ron

 

[majoco]

Won't make a scrap of difference.

 

[K9WG]

majoco is correct. If the output impedance of the transmitter and the patch cable are the same the length of the cable makes no difference. That being said, the patch cable should be a quality piece of coax with good terminations, not the cheap cables that some radio stores sell.

 

[darticus]

Can I use the 6 foot cable from RS or do I need a special cable and all I know is its a RS 6 foot cable. Ron

majoco is correct. If the output impedance of the transmitter and the patch cable are the same the length of the cable makes no difference. That being said, the patch cable should be a quality piece of coax with good terminations, not the cheap cables that some radio stores sell.

 

[K9WG]

As long as the transmitter and the patch cable are the same impedance (~50 ohms) it should work. I can't first hand comment about the quality of the RS cable. I know in the past some of their patch cables were not very good construction. For your application and power it probably will be OK

 

[LtDoc]

I can speak about the 'quality' of Radio Shack's coaxial cable. I'm afraid the quality just isn't what it used to be. It will certainly work, but it's also certainly not up to the 'standards' most people are looking for. (But then, Radio Shack appears to be out of the 'radio' business, mostly.) I base that statement on recent use of some RG-58 Radio Shack cable. The performance was okay till I tried shortening the cable (50 foot, only needed maybe half of that). It's a mechanical thingy, really poor shielding, and very difficult to get the proper connections with replacing connectors. (I'm not an expert at soldering, but I'm competent.)
The biggy with coaxial cable feed lines is matching impedances in the antenna system, and the losses at the frequency of use. After that it amounts to having enough cable to reach from 'here' to 'there', and cost. That 'cost' includes the work/effort required to make the @#$ thing work.
- 'Doc

 

[darticus]

Right now things are looking good with the SWR as I made a whip adjustable extension unit and now the SWR using the sets SWR meter(cobra 29LX) is 1.2 OR 1.3 to one over channels 1-40 and no more antenna warnings. Seems like I needed a 3 inch higher whip to get the SWR right. Now I can either get a longer whip or use my whip with the extender. Thanks Ron

 

[pjtnascar]

I would get a new whip. I think any truck stop should have them, or Advanced Specialties. I'm wondering if they sent you the wrong whip with your antenna (10 meter?), or if someone cut it before and returned it.

 

[darticus]

I did talk with Wilson company who put me in touch with their tech. It can down to a longer whip needed. They were making 66 inch whips and than they started making a shorter 62.5 inch whip. I had the shorter whip. Don't know why they cut the size probably because most trucks and cars will work fine with the shorter whip. I did make my whip on my car longer and it set up fine about 1.2 to 1 SWR on all 1-40. Wilson is sending me a free 66 inch whip to replace the small one 62.5 inches. Ron

I would get a new whip. I think any truck stop should have them, or Advanced Specialties. I'm wondering if they sent you the wrong whip with your antenna (10 meter?), or if someone cut it before and returned it.