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| guides:rf_cables [2016/04/01 15:15] – [Cables For HAB] daveake | guides:rf_cables [2016/04/01 15:15] (current) – [Cables For HAB] daveake |
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| * RG-8X. Not as low loss (2.6dB per 10m at 434MHz) as RG213, but thinner (6.1mm) and more flexible. Cost is about £1/metre. | * RG-8X. Not as low loss (2.6dB per 10m at 434MHz) as RG213, but thinner (6.1mm) and more flexible. Cost is about £1/metre. |
| * LMR-400. Even lower loss (0.86dB per 10m at 434MHz) than RG-213, 10.3mm diameter, cost about £2/metre and is stiffer than RG-213. | * LMR-400. Even lower loss (0.86dB per 10m at 434MHz) than RG-213, 10.3mm diameter, cost about £2/metre and is stiffer than RG-213. |
| * LMR-240. Low loss (1.7dB per 10m at 434MHz) is very similar to RG213, but the cable is thinner (6.1mm) and more flexible. Cost is about £1.40/metre. | * LMR-240. Low loss (1.7dB per 10m at 434MHz) which is very similar to RG213, but the cable is thinner (6.1mm) and more flexible. Cost is about £1.40/metre. |
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| As well as the resulting cable loss, also consider the cost of the installation, and how easy it is to run the cable - some cable types can be very stiff. Also, if you are using an aerial rotator, you will need some flexibility in the cable. | As well as the resulting cable loss, also consider the cost of the installation, and how easy it is to run the cable - some cable types can be very stiff. Also, if you are using an aerial rotator, you will need some flexibility in the cable. |
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| Something else to consider is the option of adding a pre-amplifier to your ground station. This limits use to receiving only, but can allow you to use fairly lossy (and therefore cheaper and easier to run) cable, and even then have an overall gain rather than loss. The amplifier should be fairly close to the aerial, to reduce the effect of any noise it generates, but should still be accessible in case you need to replace it. A good compromise might be to have the amplifier in the loft, with the aerial outside. | Something else to consider is the option of adding a pre-amplifier to your ground station. This limits use to receiving only, but can allow you to use fairly lossy (and therefore cheaper and easier to run) cable, and even then have an overall gain rather than loss. The amplifier should be fairly close to the aerial, to reduce the effect of any noise it generates, but should still be accessible in case you need to replace it. A good compromise might be to have the amplifier in the loft, with the aerial outside. |
