Topband: deterioration of RG-6

[Doug Renwick]

I do the same as Charlie does except I buy my flooded RG-6 from Shaw
Cable for 5 cents per foot.  BTW the Canadian dollar is near par with
the USD.  Charlie and I were on the Clipperton 2000 DXpedition - it
seems just like yesterday.

Doug

I'll run the race and I will never be the same again. 

-----Original Message-----
From: topband-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Missouri Guy
Sent: April 6, 2010 11:00 PM
To: n4zr at contesting.com; topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: deterioration of RG-6

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