[TowerTalk] Tram Browning Coax - Thanks

[Jim Brown]

On Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:55:20 -0600, Larry Burke wrote:

>, it was just that a local
>vendor does not handle Times Microwave cable -- only Tram. 

If I understand the context of this question, you've got a radio 
dealer that only sells this VERY off-brand coax. I talked earlier 
about junk connectors. There's also junk --no name coax. Private 
label stuff, no one really knows the specs, where it came from, 
what the Quality Control is. 

At hamfests and flea markets, I see lots of glorified zip cord 
(red/black power wire, speaker wire, etc.) that sure looks to me 
as if it's mis-labeled as to conductor diameter. The insulation is 
fat but the coppper isn't. They are sold by vendors who are, for 
the most part, CB shops, and the owners/salesmen don't appear to 
be hams. I'd bet the coax they sell is at least as questionable. 

Avoid these dealers and their garbage. Stick with good vendors and 
good mfrs. The REAL mfrs of coax suitable for transmitting are 
Belden, Times, Commscope. A few better ham vendors may buy good 
stuff built to their own specs from factories like this and 
private label it. I'd like to beleive that The Wireman, Davis RF, 
and Pasternak are in that category. I bought a spool of some good-
looking RG6 with Pasternak's name on it that I suspect might have 
come out of the Belden plant. 

73,

Jim K9YC