Euipment Jumper Cables

[Anonymous]

I use LMR-400 coax with PL-259 and SO-239 connectors for my HF ZS6BKW and vertical VHF/UHF Comet GP9 antennas. The LMR coax is rather stiff and difficult to disconnect/reconnect when testing or moving gear. What size coax with the same PL and SO connectors is recommended from e.g., a radio/antenna switch to equipment to minimize noise or performance loss?

73, Duane  KD9LIL

[Jwahar Bammi]

Hi Duane,

I use RG 8X for all my HF connections, including 6M, much more manageable than LMR 400. For VHF/UHF you may consider LMR Flex. I live with LMR 400, terminating at window antenna feed thru and then for the short jumper to the Xcvr i use RG8X.

73 de k1jbd
bammi

[Burns FISHER]

Don’t forget there is LMR400UF which is a bit more flexible.  (UF is ultraflex, not underground feeder like power cables 🙂 )

Especially for 70cm, I use LMR400, and then the UF version when I need more flexibility, and occasionally I’ll go to something smaller for a short distance when it needs to take a turn.  But I try to use N-connectors whenever I can at 70cm, and when I am switching from one cable to another.  They have a lower insertion loss and better impedance characteristics.  The connectors are much less important at lower frequencies, though.

73, Burns WB1FJ

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