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

[Cecil]

I still weather protect all connectors..as does the industry.  Mastic and tape or 3m coldshrink...but I do live in a hurricane prone area....

Cecil
K5DL

Sent from my iPad

On Apr 25, 2013, at 4:57 PM, "Bob McGraw - K4TAX" <RMcGraw at Blomand.net> wrote:

> That's why I use N type connectors.  Much more likely to be water proof when installed correctly.  UHF connectors are inexpensive and not considered water proof.    Most commercial installations will use N type connectors for waterproof reasons and constant impedance reasons.  Of course they are more expensive.
> 
> I see a N connector on the line at the house, N connector on the line at the top of the tower.  Then  N connector with a piece of RG-213 on one end and a UHF on the other because that's what the balun uses.  That the maximum number of connectors exposed.  No adaptors required.
> 
> I have 6 runs of LDF4-50 configured this way and up the tower at the house. The 100 ft repeater tower as 12 runs of LDF4-50 with an antenna on each one.
> 
> 73
> Bob, K4TAX
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Wetzel" <mjwetzel at comcast.net>
> To: "'Craig Thompson'" <craig at thompsonet.com>; "'GARY HUBER'" <glhuber at msn.com>
> Cc: "'SMC'" <smc at w9smc.com>; "'TenTec Reflector'" <tentec at contesting.com>; "'W9AML group-email'" <w9aml at midlandsnetworking.com>; <DX-IS at yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 12:07 PM
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] [SMC] OT: Half inch Andrews Heliax LDF4-50A vs LMR-400
> 
> 
>> I would also agree with Craig.
>> 
>> There are more possible failure points with the connections but really not
>> loss.  If there was loss the connectors would heat up which they really
>> don't.  Imagine how hot it would be if you were running RTTY at full power
>> and you had just .1 db loss at a connector in a sealed connection.
>> 
>> Mike W9RE
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: SMC [mailto:smc-bounces at w9smc.com] On Behalf Of Craig Thompson
>> Sent: April 24, 2013 12:53 PM
>> To: GARY HUBER
>> Cc: SMC; TenTec Reflector; W9AML group-email; DX-IS at yahoogroups.com
>> Subject: Re: [SMC] OT: Half inch Andrews Heliax LDF4-50A vs LMR-400
>> 
>> 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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