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

[Jerry R]

Craig,

Do you have a source for UHF connectors for LDF4-50A

I was told that Andrew does not manufacture those in UHF style anymore....

Maybe my supplier was wrong, or you have a different source to purchase new
ones...

and I would highly suggest the LDF4 also....  not to discount LMR-400, we use that
on long runs on DXpeditions and its pretty good stuff

Jerry WB9Z



Craig Thompson <craig at thompsonet.com> wrote ..
> Hi Gary
> 
> I would use the 1/2" Heliax. I use both and the outer jacket of the Heliax
> is superior to the LMR for both water and sun. It also has lower loss. I
> would use LMR400 UF or similar for the rotator loop. Use all UHF connectors
> for connections.
> 
> 73, Craig K9CT
> 
> 
> On Wed, Apr 24, 2013 at 11:37 AM, GARY HUBER <glhuber at msn.com> wrote:
> 
> >   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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