how much does coax matter?

How much does coax matter? What's the only thing connecting your radio to the antenna? There's your answer.

 

No do it once, do it right and forget it. And you wont need to do it again.

 

Yep I agree do it right the first time ... but this is high end coax, and there is no difference between using it and using a good 8/58/8x for that short run.

It isn't about the power, which many think it is, it is about the attenuation of the receive signal that matters. People would be surprised at the amount of power that just plain 58 handles.

Power loses with a short run (under 100 feet) really doesn't mean much, you have more loses built into the system with a nominal SWR than you would ever get from bad coax, let alone good coax. However the "big radio" (I get a kick out of that because of the BC-610 sitting behind me - see one here ==> http://home.comcast.net/~rbethman/BC-610.html ) will be a bit more sensitive to the losses on the receive side than would say a 29.

The same goes for the connectors, silver plated is an overkill mainly because the conductivity isn't degraded with the use of steel. The use of Teflon is the same thing, unless the person has experience with putting them together, then it is pretty much a waste of money. I depart from the idea that crimp on types are alright but that's because unless you do it yourself, you don't know what was done.

 

Why? LMR240 has better specs, and is about $3/foot cheaper. LMR200 is the same size as RG142, still better specs, and even cheaper than LMR240.

 

I know where you can get a 4600 turbo for $225. If you are interested pm me (it's used but has been checked out by one of the best and is in excellent cond.)

 

Because I have 700 feet left on a 1000 foot roll in the garage. I used to have a Motorola Shop, I used 142u for my antenna combiners, duplexors, and rx multicouplers on the hilltops (repeater sites) thru trial and error and chasing down problems I have grown to trust beldem and andrews cables. Also I run up to 1.2 ghz out of the truck so I need cable I can trust. Im not a truckin golden screwdriver. The only reason for my extra class is made it easier working with some of the site users.

 

Already having it on hand is a Very Good<TM> reason to use it...

 

Using factory coax with a big radio is like putting cheap little tires on a hot rod.

 

Coax $25. Radio $350 (new) plus $35 for the align and tune at Copper Electronics. Not sure about which antenna, but $60 should cover it. That's $460 minus install. $140+ for an install? Sounds like you're getting ripped off.

Side note, stay away from Connex. Get a good Cobra 148 and add a small linear. Much cheaper, much better sound, much better quality.