[TenTec] OT: Half inch Andrews Heliax LDF4-50A vs LMR-400

[jack]

after all I have read on coaxial cable, I would choose the LMR-400. the 
difference in signal loss at such a short run would not be noticeable to the 
ear.
jack
ak7o


-----Original Message----- 
From: GARY HUBER
Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 10:37 AM
To: TenTec Reflector
Cc: SMC ; DX-IS at yahoogroups.com ; W9AML group-email
Subject: [TenTec] OT: Half inch Andrews Heliax LDF4-50A vs LMR-400

As I consider the materials required to replace my 30 year old tower, rotor, 
antenna and cables, I have several like new runs on LDF4-50A terminated with 
N-male which could run from my ground window (UHF female) to the top of my 
53 foot tower (60 feet max LDF4-50A cable run)  where a flexible low-loss 10 
foot jumper would terminate on a new BN-4000 and new TH-7 tribander.  This 
configuration would require the 60 feet max LDF4-50A cable run,  two half 
inch N female to UHF male adapters, one UHF double female and 10 feet of 
high quality RG8 cable as the jumper to the BN-4000.

The alternative which I’m leaning towards as it seems less likely to have 
connector/adapter loss and other potential problems is a single run of 75 
feet of LMR-400 with factory terminated PL-259s between the BN-4000 and 
ground window UHF female termination. My current installation is 60 feet of 
RG-9913, a UHF double female adapter and a ten foot RG-8214 jumper.

I know the half inch Andrews Heliax has a much lower loss figure (0.357 db 
per 100 feet at 30MHz) for a given length versus the same length of LMR 400 
(0.7 db per 100 feet at 30MHz) , but I’m thinking those three adapters (six 
connection points for loss) and their potential problems make it a wash or 
maybe the advantage goes to the 75 foot run of LMR-400.

I’d be interested in any comments or experiences you might have on the 
subject.

73 ES DX,
Gary -- AB9M




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