[TowerTalk] Life expectancy of RG-213

[n8de at thepoint.net]

Tom,
Sounds like the jacket is NOT non-contaminating and has caused the problem.

Quite often, that occurs with CHEAP coax brands, especially those  
'bargain box' brands that come from U-NO-WHERE.

I stick with Belden, Times, and other major manufacturers.

Some of the military surplus RG-213 is 10 or more years old and MINT.   
When sold, it often has the end caps STILL ON IT.  That's a good  
indicator of quality, IMHO.

I bought a large amount of military surplus RG-213 with N-connectors,  
and use the Female-N to Male-UHF when necessary.

73
Don
N8DE


Quoting Tom Osborne <w7why at verizon.net>:

> Hi Don
>
> What makes coax turn black anyway??
>
> I was checking some feedlines here and some off-brand RG8X I have and the
> center conductor and the sheild turned both black.  It was not just at the
> ends but a long way back from the end.
>
> It doesn't look like it was wet.
>
>  Looks like I'll have to get rid of a bunch of it.  73
> Tom W7WHY
>
>
> Pete,
>
> Beg, borrow, buy a TDR and look at it that way.
>
> Most coax will last many more years than people believe.
>
> Problems occur from moisture ingress, but, if trimmed when necessary,
> will do just fine.
>
> My rule of thumb is:  If the shield is shiny, it's OK.
>
> I have 100's of feet of it ready to put into use this Fall/Winter season.
> Now all I need to do is get the towers/antennas up!
>
> Good luck
> 73
> Don
> N8DE
>
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