Red Wave Radio

I was wondering what type of coax cable I should run from mast mounted antenna
to my indoor scanner, which is a Uniden BC895XT.  The length of the run should
be approximately 50-75 feet.

Thank you much in advance,

Rick

Belden 9116 is excellent. Get it from www.mouser.com, $18 for 100 feet.

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Before you buy.

Get some double shielded RG-6.

Best bang for your buck..........IMHO

Works great less filling!

Glenn

Quote:> I was wondering what type of coax cable I should run from mast mounted
antenna
> to my indoor scanner, which is a Uniden BC895XT.  The length of the run
should
> be approximately 50-75 feet.

> Thank you much in advance,

> Rick

Quote:>I was wondering what type of coax cable I should run from mast
mounted antenna
>to my indoor scanner, which is a Uniden BC895XT.  The length of the
run should
>be approximately 50-75 feet.

Rick, I'd use either LMR-200 or LMR-400.  Preferably, the LMR-400,
which has better signal/noise characteristics than RG-8.  Check out
www.timesmicrowave.com  for more info.  I won't use anything else,
myself.   BTW, I've no affiliations, etc., etc., etc., with
TimesMicrowave.
--
Regards,
Anthony

RG-6

Quote:>I was wondering what type of coax cable I should run from mast mounted antenna
>to my indoor scanner, which is a Uniden BC895XT.  The length of the run should
>be approximately 50-75 feet.

RG8U ought to be sufficient for this application. You might even get
away with RG58U if you do most of your listening at the lower end of
your scanner's range, or if your listening in UHF ranges is confined
to very strong local signals. RG58U will get "lossy" at UHF
frequencies, resulting in reduced performance or even total loss of
weaker UHF signals - hence the recommendation for RG8U.

73 and good DX'ing,
John D. Kasupski
KC2FNG, KNY2VS

I disagree John. He should go with RG6U. Much better at the high end and
cheaper.

RG-6 has the lowest loss of the bunch and for the buck. It is good stuf and
gets better than the rest as the frequecy goes into VHF and then UHF. If RG8
was so great the satellite folks would be using it. :-)

Quote:

> >>I was wondering what type of coax cable I should run from mast mounted
> antenna
> >>to my indoor scanner, which is a Uniden BC895XT.  The length of the run
> should
> >>be approximately 50-75 feet.

> >RG8U ought to be sufficient for this application.

>    If you use RG-8, get the type with "polyfoam" dielectric, not the solid
> dielectric.  The foam type has much less loss, especially at the higher
> frequencies, than the other.  It's also a bit better than RG-6, but is
larger
> and a bit more expensive.  RG-8 doesn't have as good shielding as RG-6,
but
> usually adequate unless you have a RF noisy environment, like computers
near
> the coax.

>    Ed

Quote:

>>I was wondering what type of coax cable I should run from mast mounted
antenna
>>to my indoor scanner, which is a Uniden BC895XT.  The length of the run
should
>>be approximately 50-75 feet.
>RG8U ought to be sufficient for this application.

   If you use RG-8, get the type with "polyfoam" dielectric, not the solid
dielectric.  The foam type has much less loss, especially at the higher
frequencies, than the other.  It's also a bit better than RG-6, but is larger
and a bit more expensive.  RG-8 doesn't have as good shielding as RG-6, but
usually adequate unless you have a RF noisy environment, like computers near
the coax.

   Ed

Quote:>RG-6 has the lowest loss of the bunch and for the buck. It is good stuf and
>gets better than the rest as the frequecy goes into VHF and then UHF. If RG8
>was so great the satellite folks would be using it. :-)

    The "satellite" bunch doesn't use RG 8 because it is 50 ohm cable, as
opposed to the 75 ohm cable for video work.  Also, RG-8 costs more and is
larger and more difficult to handle and route.   Check the specs on cable for
yourself at  <<http://www.belden.com>> .

   Ed

Regardless it is cheaper and has lower losses. RG8 sucks when it leaves the
realm of HF. For scanners RG6 is the way to go...quad shiedl rocks! Less
loss cost less too.

Quote:

> >RG-6 has the lowest loss of the bunch and for the buck. It is good stuf
and
> >gets better than the rest as the frequecy goes into VHF and then UHF. If
RG8
> >was so great the satellite folks would be using it. :-)

>     The "satellite" bunch doesn't use RG 8 because it is 50 ohm cable, as
> opposed to the 75 ohm cable for video work.  Also, RG-8 costs more and is
> larger and more difficult to handle and route.   Check the specs on cable
for
> yourself at  <<http://www.belden.com>> .

>    Ed

Quote:>Regardless it is cheaper and has lower losses. RG8 sucks when it leaves the
>realm of HF. For scanners RG6 is the way to go...quad shiedl rocks! Less
>loss cost less too.

  Well, RG-6 certainly costs less.  And as for loss, it depends where you're
looking.  RG8 foam (like Belden 89913) edges RG6 (like 9114) out in the VHF
and UHF frequencies, which is where most scanners are looking.  Above 500 MHz
or so, RG6 broadband loss characteristics are better and have lower loss.  
Check various loss figures out for yourself at:  

  <<http://www.belden.com/Products/Catalog/allcat2.idc>>

  The difference in VHF and UHf between the two isn't worth the added cost of
RG8, so I too, would recommend RG6.

  Ed

First you need to ground your antenna outside! Secondly it depends on
what you want to listen to. Above 200mhz, I would use the Belden 9913.
It's great cable, use silver connectors and seal the connectors
outside. However, it's thick and expensive. It will cost about
$.64/foot. It's over 1/4 of an inch thick and you can't bend it very
much or you'll lose signal. Get the single copper strand. It has
wonderful shielding too!!! This is for some SERIOUS listening and
transmitting as well. Also, make sure you have a good antenna. Post if
you have any more questions. This is the king of cable, unless you want
to pay $3/foot for even thicker cable, it's like a "hardline."

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Before you buy.

On Sat, 16 Oct 1999 23:34:26 GMT, J o h n M a c k e y

Although it is 75 Ohm, it just won't make a difference in the scanner.

75 will work just fine.