Towertalk
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [TowerTalk] Where to get LMR 400

To: towertalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Where to get LMR 400
From: Rob Atkinson <ranchorobbo@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2020 13:30:30 -0600
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
>I bought LMR400 once and it seemed so stiff. Does this work OK around a
>rotator?  I also have some LMR400UF which has a stranded conductor and is
>much more flexible however unfortunately Times used a different jacket
>material which is less UV resistant. All of my rotator loops are RG-213.

To be honest, I've never understood the love affair with LMR.  I think
it's horrible cable.   You have an aluminum foil shield with tinned
copper braid laid over it.   I wouldn't want to solder that and I
don't think that's the way the LMR connectors work anyway.  If you
have to crimp it a crimp on that shield with foam dielectric doesn't
work well long term and if the jacket is breached the shield is
fragile.  I'd go with Andrew or Commscope 1/2 inch heliax hands down.
The corrugated solid copper shield can be crimped with the Andrew N
connectors and it's a water proof seal plus if the jacket gets cut the
copper shield will preserve the interior until the jacket can be
repaired.  It's also able to withstand weight on it.  I'd run heliax
and use RG213 for the rotator loop however on 70 cm. something else
may be needed.   You can also solder to the corrugated copper more
easily and it can maintain its shape under pressure from a hose clamp
if you want to connect it to strap on the inside of a transmitter or
transmatch enclosure at a feed point.  I know the price of Heliax has
gone up substantially so I'd look for used runs.

73
Rob
K5UJ
_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>