[TowerTalk] Old coax

[Mark Spencer]

I have some Belden Coax that I purchased as un used surplus in the early 90's.    I suspect it was at least 10 years old when I purchased it so it is probably at least 25 years old now.   It has been largely stored and used indoors but I have not had any issues with it.  I installed some a few years ago and it looked as good as new, and it passed a quick loss test once I put connectors on the piece I was using.  
 
I wish I had purchased more of it when I had the chance.  The retail price for new Belden Coax where I live has reached $1.50 per foot for RG 213 style coax.     
 
If I found a roll of non foam dielectric Belden coax that had been stored out side for 25 years (but out of the sun and direct weather) I would discard the coax that forms the outer layer on the roll (or use it for radial wire or some other application..)  If the braid and center conductor of the ballance looks bright and shiny and the dieletric looks okay I'd be inclined to use it.    I doubt I'd go to the trouble of un reeling the ballance, putting connectors on and testing it and then reeling it back up, but I'd plan on testing it after it was installed.
 
I might also discard the last 10 feet or so of the cable at the other end of the spool as well.
 
If I was not 100 percent sure the coax was made by Belden (or another name brand) I'd be less keen on using coax that old.
 
I'm also not sure I'd want to use foam dieletric coax that old.  (I don't recall if RG 214 is even avaliable with a foam dieletric.)
 
Good luck.
 
 
 
  
--- On Sun, 7/6/08, Ken Anderson <k6ta at volcano.net> wrote:

From: Ken Anderson <k6ta at volcano.net>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Old coax
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Received: Sunday, July 6, 2008, 3:26 PM

I have a roll of RG214A/U that is approximately 25 years old.  Coax is
700-800 feet on its original spool and was residual from a commercial
installation.  The spool has been stored outside, out of rain and sun,
all these years.

There is no markings on coax other than RG info but I believe it was
manufactured by Belden.

What is peoples experience with the usability of such coax?

Ken, K6TA





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