[Repeater-Builder] Re: LMR coax
If you email or contact my (rotten to the core :-) friend Mike (wu7q) about his UHF Repeater System (on echolink and IRLP), he'll tell you the story of how his brand new LMR-400 feed-line worked great for about 3 months. The system was installed early in the year when outside temps were moderate. The California 105' summer heat killed the line in the fourth month of operation. The Repeater Receiver went numb... really numb. Everything tested great, Receiver, Duplexer, the LMR-400 feedline and new Antenna. T'was a real head scratcher for a time. So... We replaced the LMR-400 feed line with 1/2 inch andrews hard line and the receiver came back to life just like magic! The original LMR-400 still tests like nothing is wrong with it... but something is wrong with it unless you like resistive feed line on your UHF Repeater System. This is only one example of the grief we've had with LMR-400 feed line. But I will say that some of our earlier installed LMR line vhf antenna systems are still working ok. We are slowing removing the LMR-400 from critical applications as equipment is changed. Your results will probably vary... Tower climbers and antenna days are costly and eat up more time than most people/shops care to admit. Over time you learn to remove all the variables from a new antenna system installation so you don't end up punching the clown over a product selection mistake. LMR is in the variable columb... cheers, skipp Tim and Janet Campbell [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Recently there were some negative comments about the LMR coax. I have not used it before but was curious what problems others may have encountered while using it. Tim KB2MFS Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: LMR coax
Hello Skipp,I would be really interested in knowing with say 10 watts going into the cable, how much reaches a dummy load at the far end. I have never had any loss issues with LMR400, other than breaking the center conductor. I have bunches of LMR500 and 600 with no trouble. Above 600, it makes more sense to use LDF5-50 7/8 Andrew cable. I have various LMR cables in place from HF to 1296 (on 1296 they are short jumpers from the main line into the station). Steve NU5DOn 4/2/06, skipp025 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: If you email or contact my (rotten to the core :-) friend-- DE NU5D - Promote Amateur Radio YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "Repeater-Builder" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Repeater-Builder] Re: LMR coax
Hi Steve, In the approx 50' length of feedline we used, there appeared to be no un-realistic amount of loss in the new lmr cable. As mentioned earlier, sourcing the numb receiver was a real head scratcher for a week or two. Tx out power and return losss measured just peachy, but no cigar on the rx loss go figure. I don't have the original values anymore... It's possible I still have the problematic line segement still at the repeater site (well marked as bad). Maybe this summer I'll have another look at it. 1/2 inch hard line is not really that much more and there's a glut of feedline around from all the cell site swap outs/changes. I've not had any problem with the larger LMR lines although we don't have a lot of it in service. I do have a lot of the rg-58 size LMR 200 in service and I like it for inside jumpers in some applications. Mostly because I got it free and it's easy to work with. But most of the serious applications get rg-214 mil spec so I can sleep well at night... cheers, skipp Steve Bosshard (NU5D) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello Skipp, I would be really interested in knowing with say 10 watts going into the cable, how much reaches a dummy load at the far end. I have never had any loss issues with LMR400, other than breaking the center conductor. I have bunches of LMR500 and 600 with no trouble. Above 600, it makes more sense to use LDF5-50 7/8 Andrew cable. I have various LMR cables in place from HF to 1296 (on 1296 they are short jumpers from the main line into the station). Steve NU5D Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[Repeater-Builder] Re: LMR coax
--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Tim and Janet Campbell [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Recently there were some negative comments about the LMR coax. I have not used it before but was curious what problems others may have encountered while using it. Tim KB2MFS 1. I would NEVER use LMR between the repeater and duplexers, use RG-142 or even better are the Andrews Superflex. 2. If using LMR-400/600/900/1200, make sure it is the FLOODED BRAID version; I never buy anything except the Flooded Braid versions. Most of the problems I have found were traces to improperly installed connectors , non-flooded braid cable, and/or weatherproofing; including at grounding locations. Either order the cables with the conectors installed or have the PROPER tools and know how to install them and use accepted commerical weatherproofing material and techniques. 3. If you are having to PAY for cable installation, spend the extra money for good quality Hardline such as Andrews or RFS Celwave; it will save you over time. 4. LMR-400 is better than RG-8 type cable, LMR-600 is better than LMR- 400, Hardline is better all the time. 5. Note that many MANAGED commerical sites do NOT allow anything but specific hardlines. This is for many reasons, including standardization of their cable hangers and PROPER grounding of the cables at regular intervals (not only at the top and bottom of the run). Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: LMR coax
Dave wrote: Now I don't want to get kicked out of this forum, so I have to cross this one gently. I am the Anderson of Fleeman, Anderson Bird Corp http://www.fab-corp.com as mentioned above. We have offered for years a special amateur radio operator discount of 7% off your total. All you have to do is put your callsign in the comments when you finish you order. This is done manually the first order, but subsequent orders you'll see the % off on your cart when you login the site. My appologies to the moderator if i've crossed any rules here, just wanting to pass on the offer we have. Seeya, Dave Anderson No apology necessary, except for your prices maybe I looked at a few things and realized that even with a generous 7% Ham Discount, that you are still several percent higher than the norm. Lets take for example your Rotenna look alike bridge set: http://www.fab-corp.com/product.php?productid=3135cat=267page=1 Your special price of only $434.99. Take off 7% and you get $404.54 Now look at this: http://www.wlanparts.com/product/RT-2418-CB3 Buy 2 for $344.00 Granted you don't get the Cat 5 cable in this kit, but you could buy a 500' roll for the difference. Then your WET54G: $149.99, less 7% is $139.49... http://www.fab-corp.com/product.php?productid=2900cat=267page=1 You can buy them here for $92.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=5866005359 At 7%, you aren't doing us hams any favors Kevin Custer Owner Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
