base coax

Try

PL-259 Installation Made Easy for RG8X

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzXXjzmA-IE

 

One thing that's not apparent from the video is that he's using a Weller soldering station, and it's barely adequate (which is why you have to hold it for 20+ seconds). Your Wal-Mart/RadioShack special soldering pencil isn't going to cut it. A 100 watt soldering gun would be a better tool for PL-259s.

 

Farmer,
At the frequency that CB operates on, the amount of loss (figured as a percentage) is so low for adapters and connectors that you'll be OK if you need to splice two pieces of whatever you've got to reach the antenna. Just make sure to use connectors that are installed properly; don't try to do a "solder splice" like you might with a piece of DC wiring in a vehicle, or on a lamp cord in the house, and expect it to work. Radio signals (generally referred to as "RF" for "radio frequency") are AC but at high enough frequencies that the spacing between conductors and even the sizes of the conductors make a difference. That's why some techs prefer not to use PL259-type connectors above a certain frequency, or with certain cable styles.
RG-8X has much better loss figures than RG-58 for the length you need, and is a lot less expensive than any of the "full-sized" RG-8 cables, like RG8, RG-213, 9913, or LMR-400.
My suggestion would be to do what hams have been doing for nearly a hundred years: put up what you've got and get on the air. As time goes on, and you're able to save up a little $$, the first thing to upgrade will probably be that feedline.
And remember the precautions about mounting your dipole; I don't remember if you said if it would be vertical or horizontal. But until you get *something* up in the air, you won't be on the air at all. The sunspot cycle peak won't last forever....
73,
Handlebar

 

The very best base coax is the RG-213.

 

RG-213 is good coaxand PL-259 connectors are good at CB but when you get to 2 meters this starts to change .... others are better ....

 

Haven't watched it yet, but thanks for the post!

 

Maybe if you're expecting to need to use it to pull start a jeep, but as far as loss is concerned, it's about the worst of the .405" diameter coax types. The current superstar of the RG8-class coax is LMR-400; it has about half the loss of RG-213, uses the same connectors, and is about the same price.

Thirty years ago, RG-213 was "the best" simply because you could bury it directly. Now, most coax can be.

 

just make sure that when you splice them together you use two pl-259 connectors and a barrel connector.Don't splice wire to wire because you will loose wire impedence and it will mess up your swr.