Topband: deterioration of RG-6

Missouri Guy n0tt1 at juno.com
Tue Apr 6 21:59:58 PDT 2010


Hi Pete,
 
> Is water ingress a known problem with RG-6?  Any particular brand 
> known to be better?
 
"Regular" RG6 will wick water into the shield and eventually ruin the
coax.  Use only the "flooded" type outdoors.  Read more below.
In my  experience, the brand of RG6 doesn't particularly matter.  I 
bought all of mine on "the bay" in 1000' spools.  All of it was 
quality USA-made, specifically for direct-bury. 
 
I have quite a few feet of RG6, all buried, for my 9-circle RX array.
No water problems.  I took the advice of the guys on this reflector
and purchased nothing but "flooded" RG6....it's got a sticky-gooey
stuff imbedded in the shields (wrapped AL foil and a single braid
over that) so water won't wick it's way in.  I also use 
Thomas & Betts "Snap 'n Seal" F-connectors that have a 
built-in O-ring.  Even with those, I keep the connectors
totally out of direct rain exposure.  
 
73,
Charlie, N0TT


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