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Re: [TowerTalk] Need help estimating cable length of DXE 400 MAX

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Need help estimating cable length of DXE 400 MAX
From: Jim Brown <jim@audiosystemsgroup.com>
Reply-to: jim@audiosystemsgroup.com
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2020 12:54:40 -0800
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
On 1/12/2020 11:07 AM, Michael Tope wrote:
The published velocity factor for this type of cable is 0.81 so,

    Lp = 3514 ft * 0.81 = 2847 ft


This is very close to what the guy was advertising, so I knew I wasn't being short changed.

BUT -- VF for ALL transmission lines varies with frequency, and is typically about 5 percent slower in the range where you measured. The published value is that to which it converges at VHF, and is what most TDR instruments measure. The difference will make the line "measure" that percentage longer than it really is using the technique of looking for the first quarter-wave null.

See page 8 of http://k9yc.com/Coax-Stubs.pdf for an example of this measurement made by finding nulls at harmonic frequencies and plotting VF from those data. This can be done with instruments as simple as an MFJ-259 -- you turn the dial to find the null(s), then write down the frequency(ies) and compute VF.

73, Jim K9YC




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