RG-6?

[VE3GZB]

I've fallen into a deal that got me a couple of spools of RG6 cheap.

Is it good for transmitters? Or only receivers?

Thanks and 73s
geo
VE3GZB

[W2PFY]

Somewhere I have seen it's use as transmission line for ham radio.

This is what I found but didn't look at all it's applications. I think it should be good for a  hundred watts. Just guessing of course 

http://www.eham.net/forums/VHFUHF/5558



http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/rg6.htm

[VE3GZB]

Thanks!

73s
geo
VE3GZB

[WB2EMS]

I use it all the time for feeding loops. Good for a couple of hundred watts at least. I use it for a quarter wave matching section between a full wave loop and the shack, or if needed attach the section to some 50 ohm to reach the rest of the way back to the shack. Works nice on my 75 meter loop. Also fine for dipoles.

[k4kyv]

I would say it is good for about the same power level as RG-59 foam type.

[VE3GZB]

I would say it is good for about the same power level as RG-59 foam type.

I'm not familiar with using RG-59 foam type since this it my first transmitter....does that mean this is good or it's crap?

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Good for a few hundred watts (depending on the Z of the antenna).

[Opcom]

I think we used 6 for video feeds at Sony. very well shielded as I recall.

[KD6VXI]

I've fallen into a deal that got me a couple of spools of RG6 cheap.

Is it good for transmitters? Or only receivers?

Thanks and 73s
geo
VE3GZB

RG 6 is the "Mini 8" version of RG 59, a 75 ohm coaxial cable.  It's mainly used in Cable and Satellite installs, but about 10 years ago, it was usually only seen in satellite installs.

I've used it with semi-qro in the past, on a phasing harness.  It had a kilowatt PEP into a pair of RG-6 cables, so each one saw about 500 PEP. 

Look up the spec's on Mini-8.  RG-6 is just better shielded RG-59, which is the 75 ohm version of RG-58, our typical 50 ohm coaxial cable.

Real thin stuff.  Even takes the same adapter (UG) to use as Mini-8 coax.

As I've said, it will take 4-500 PEP, but that was VERY low carrier AM, and SSB.  I wouldn't pump it much past 150 to 200 watts of carrier, MAX!!!

The sheilding is approximated to Radio Shack coax.  YOU NEVER KNOW!  Some of it is triple or quad shielded, some of it I've seen was nothing more than a braid that wasn't even 100 percent on the coverage.

GOOD quality will be double shielded.  REALLY good quality is triple shielded.

Hope it helps.

--Shane

[VE3GZB]

What I got was two spools, each 500ft, from "The Source", they're having a bankruptcy clearance.

It's RG6/U, indoor/outdoor/inwall rated, part number 2781316. 75 Ohm.

These ones are still unopened, so with 500ft of coax I can rig up a better feedline to my Dipole I guess!

What I don't use I plan to sell to whoever needs some around the village, or give/trade for whatever I might need.

[ve6pg]

..geo...is this available in the store, or order on line?...

..tim..

..sk..

[VE3GZB]

We found it on-line while at work, my boss' son works in the lab with me and when he came across it he asked if I wanted any. So I said yes!

They made a billing error and when he tried to call up the ad and complain, he found that the cable was no longer being offered - it being a clearance sale.

But there are probably others like this one:

http://www.thesource.ca/estore/Product.aspx?language=en-CA&catalog=Online&category=CoaxCable&product=2788125

[ve6pg]

..ok, but, is it available in the stores, as well?..

..sk..

[KM1H]

Ive used it for decades at 1200W SSB, CW and more recently AM on 160-80M with low VSWR. I use F connectors and F-UHF adapters.

HD carries 500 and 1000' reels as well as connectors and crimpers in this area.

My station is all 75 Ohms from 1.8 mHz to 1296 mHz.

Carl
KM1H

[WU2D]

This stuff is easy to find as surplus! Nice stuff. Tessco supplies connectors...

RG-6 comes in many grades, the best are virtually unbeatable for loss and shielding vs. size and weight, since they are designed for the CATV industry. They will generally beat 50 Ohm coax (like the LMR's) for loss in similar diameters.

I know that there are triple and quad shielded versions but even the dual shielded cables are excellent like Belden 9116.  

The secret is that they are built right - solid center conductor, gas injected foam poly, and braid over aluminum and then a poly jacket. This simple formula is a winner up to 1000 MHz. The Times Microwave 50 Ohm LMR stuff is similarly built.

Mike WU2D

[KM1H]

I use only quad shielded and flooded; the small price difference isnt enough to go the cheapskate route when buying new. Ive had the cheap stuff ruined by birds and 4 legged chewing critters and use that only indoors from stuff I bought or scrounged in the 80's. I wired my house TV distribution also with it.

Carl
KM1H

[KL7OF]

Beverage feedlines with the right transformer work great with RG-6....I too got a BIG roll for cheep.....

[K4TLJ]

So I can use leftover RG6 from a cable TV installation to make a matching section for an 'irregular polygon horizontal loop antenna for 80 meters?