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

[Craig Thompson]

I had therfc.com make up my cables. They have the tools, connectors and
cable. Call and ask for Joel...he is a ham and knows his stuff.


On Wed, Apr 24, 2013 at 12:13 PM, Jerry R <jerry at daca.net> wrote:

> 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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