Message-Id: <3.0.3.32.19980911042904.006f9c60@mail.digital.net>
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 04:29:04 -0400
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
From: John Cooper <heyduke@digital.net>
Subject: Re: Coax cable selection
Mime-Version: 1.0

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The main difference between brands/types of coax is the signal loss at a
given frequency. I think you would find the Radio Shack variety more lossy
than the Belden.

Does this matter?

Probably not much on a 15' run from your com radio back to the antenna in
the tail.

However, remember that the signal that is "lost" is radiated through the
shield of the coax into the airplane environment. This can cause other
problems besides weak signal strength. For instance, the fuel level sender
in my friends L-235 picks up stray radiation this way which causes his fuel
gage to peg every time he keys his mic.

Me? I went with mil-spec RG-142 for my com feed, and the Radio Shack stuff
for the marker beacon coax. I plan to use the "good" RG-58 to connect to
the nav antenna which is in the baggage compartment ceiling (when I get
around to installing a nav radio, someday). I will also use the lowest-loss
coax I can find for the transponder feed. I'd use RG-8 if it weren't for
the adapters I'd need on each end.

Check out http://www.aeroelectric.com