[Towertalk] Really dumb question on coax

[K7LXC@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/28/02 8:06:12 PM Pacific Daylight Time, swca@swbell.net 
writes:

> If it were my station the answer would depend a LOT on if this was a 10
>  meter run or a 160 meter run - many people feel the UHF barrel connector 
and
>  two PL259s are visible to the RF - more on 10M than 160M.  I know guys who
>  claim to have run tests on this and concluded the above.  I have never run
>  the test myself, but I believe it.  Loss numbers reported were in the 1-2 
db
>  at 28 Mc range

    Jeez - they sure must've screwed up the installation of the PL259's. 

    "Feel" and "claim" are not acceptable measurements. A couple of EE 
undergrads (who happen to belong to TT occasionally) some years ago measured 
connector loss in the WSU EE lab. Their comments are in the TT archives and 
the resulting loss was in the hundredths of dB. Like Tom said, "connectors 
can be considered lossless at HF." 

    Thoughtful informative posts with some real information is encouraged. 

Cheers,
Steve    K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for commercial and amateurs