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Re: [TowerTalk] Coax choice for crank-up - looking for TT experience/rec

To: Richard Thorne <rthorne@rthorne.net>, "towertalk@contesting.com" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Coax choice for crank-up - looking for TT experience/recommendations
From: David Aslin G3WGN <david@aslinvc.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2017 21:51:01 +0000
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Hi Rich,
Thanks for the thought.  I developed an Excel spreadsheet for our 6Gs 
DXpeditions (TX6G, E6GG, ZL7G) that does the same as the arrg calculator but 
allows multiple segments each with selectable coax types to give a 
transceiver-to-antenna loss figure, so I can see the effect of cable selection 
on overall and segment loss; in addition to all the types of cable available in 
the US, it includes many European cables like Ecoflex, Aircell and the Messi & 
Paolini products.  For DXpedition use it also includes cable weights so we can 
trade off loss versus weight for shipping.
For my home station I set a goal of maximum overall cable loss on 10/12m of 1dB 
and that's why LDF5-50A came into the picture (we use a 2dB target for our 
DXpeditions as it's more realistic for lightweight cables and we factor in 
antenna gain/loss too).  I have a very quiet QTH so 1dB is worth aiming for. I 
agree that for 30 and 80m hardline is overkill for 150feet.
73, David G3WGN  M6O


-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Thorne [mailto:rthorne@rthorne.net] 
Sent: 10 July 2017 22:43
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Coax choice for crank-up - looking for TT 
experience/recommendations

David,

Have you run the coax loss numbers on the intended frequencies?  You may find 
that going to hard line from the base of the tower is not worth it.

Try http://www.arrg.us/pages/Loss-Calc.htm I just used it to determine that 
RG-213 is plenty of coax to go up a rotating tower for a new 80m dipole and a 
30m yagi.  While there is a difference between 7/8 hard line and rg-213 at 
those frequencies, the difference in loss is not worth worrying about.

Rich - N5ZC

On 7/10/2017 11:15 AM, David Aslin G3WGN wrote:
> I'm putting together a new contest station and have already decided 
> on/obtained LDF5-50A for the 150ft runs to the bases of the two crank-up 
> towers.
> Looking for real-life experiences with cable choices for going up the 
> telescopic crank-up towers.  Seems to me LDF Heliax (either 4-50 or 5-50) 
> won't have sufficient flexibility for the job - the towers are likely to be 
> up/down frequently for neighbour and passing storm reasons. Am I too cautious 
> on that score or is a low-loss coax with stranded core like the Messi & 
> Paolini Hyperflex/Ultraflex series or LMR 400/600UF a better bet?
> 73, David G3WGN  M6O
>
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