[TowerTalk] 9913 & 9913f

[Jim Jarvis]

Folks...

Roger's post..below...raises an interesting question...which comes
AFTER his post:

Looking for some 9913-flex or Lmr-400 ultra-flex. About 700 to 1000 ft.

I won't let 9913 near my tower<:-))
Lightening blw off the water proofing up on top and I had water running out
of the rig less than 15 minutes later.

I purchased two 1000 foot spools of LMR 400 and like it.  It's easy to work
with and will make tighter bends safely than 9913.I think I have about 1500
to 1600 feet in use at present.

I purchased mine from Texas Towers.
I think it's bury flex that some of the guys have been saying is real good
coax. Price wise I think it's less than LMR 400 which is less than 9913.

Roger Halstead (K8RI, EN73 & ARRL Life Member) N833R, World's Oldest
Debonair (S# CD-2) www.rogerhalstead.com
[snip]

<snip>

Question:  I have had both 9913 and 9913f in long runs, in VT.  Critter
damage to the outer jacket resulted in water in both.  Although Flex has
foam dielectric, water can travel between the dielectric and the aluminum
shield wrap....and loss goes way up.  I scrapped 1000 feet of the stuff
as a result of two winter's chewing.  

What is LMR-400 like, in terms of ruggedness and water-wicking?

N2EA
jimjarvis at ieee.org