[TowerTalk] Belden 8285

[Alan C. Zack]

What exactly happens to the foam in the coax?
What are the indications when it goes bad?

I have some brand new RG-213 still on the reel that has been storage 
in my garage for about 18 yrs.  When I retired from the Coast Guard I 
intended to use it right away.  Instead I got stuck in a CC&R 
restricted home due to a lay off in my second career.  I did complete 
my second career and am now fully retired at a QTH where I can put up 
a tower and antennas and wonder do I risk using the reel of RG-213 I 
have stored all these years.  It has been in a dark corner of a 
garage, never getting too hot or cold, never getting wet or even 
exposed to dampness.  I am really tempted to use it but wonder what 
the indications would be if it has degraded.

TIA & 73

Keith Dutson wrote:

>>Does this stuff degrade with age the same as coax?
> 
> 
> I don't think so.  The problem with coax is the dielectric material (e.g.
> foam).
> 
> 
>>Could I use this to feed a dipole 160-10 meters at 100 watts?
> 
> 
> Absolutely.
> 
> Keith
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Steve Forst
> Sent: Saturday, September 18, 2004 8:58 PM
> To: TowerTalk at contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Belden 8285
> 
> I have some "new" 20 year old Belden 8285  300 ohm twin lead.  It's stamped
> "Permohm UHF".   Conductors   are 20 ga.  and are 7 strands of  copper clad
> steel in a solid  poly.
> 
> Does this stuff degrade with age the same as coax?   Could I use this to
> feed a dipole 160-10 meters at 100 watts?  I know the conductor size is
> small, but I have a lot of this stuff and could put it  to use.
> 
> Tnx Steve KW3A

-- 
__________________________________________________________________________ 

Alan Zack
Amateur Radio Station K7ACZ
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Quality Engineer, The Boeing Company, Retired
Aviation Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Coast Guard, Retired
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