VHF/AIS antenna with permanently mounted cable?

[GTom]

Cheapest RG58 coax "of course", but I was wondering if the loss between the cable and the antenna could be mitigated with permanently mounted cable, like this one?: Shakespeare V-Tronix Stainless Steel Antenna, MD20

If there is no/very little loss with a permanently mounted cable, on my 18m run the above kit would be almost equivalent to an RG213 trough a pl-259 especially with the lack my crimping-soldering skills...

Can't recall if Salty John's Manta's were permanently mounted RG8x kits or the cable joined via a PL-259?

 

[prv]

Salty John’s Mantas had a PL-259. This was good because it allowed me to connect my choice of very good coax from a radio specialist. Can’t remember the designation offhand, but it was almost as thick as the plug and had complete braid coverage.

The only downside is all the French traffic I hear in the Solent ?

Pete

 

[lw395]

If the antenna has a pl259 built into it, the matching network probably takes that into account so the fact the PL259 is not a perfect 50 ohms won't cause a loss.
It's not like putting a non-50ohm connection in the middle of the cable run.

 

[Rocksteadee]

Salty John’s Mantas had a PL-259. This was good because it allowed me to connect my choice of very good coax from a radio specialist. Can’t remember the designation offhand, but it was almost as thick as the plug and had complete braid coverage.

The only downside is all the French traffic I hear in the Solent ?

Pete

Get that in France as well

 

[Salty John]

For an 18m run I'd use RG8X. It will give you about 40% loss in the cable. RG58 over that distance will lose about 65%. RG213 is even lower loss, of course, but more difficult to handle.
Contrary to some wild statements you see from time to time, insertion loss on a PL259 is minimal, a fraction of a db, as lw395 rightly says.
You can buy an 18m RG8X cable kit from Glomex with an FME connector on each end. Onto these connectors you can screw a PL259 - no soldering or crimping required. They aren't quite as easy to thread through tight spaces as bare cable ends but they're OK for most applications. Then you can connect to a decent antenna.

 

[GTom]

If the antenna has a pl259 built into it, the matching network probably takes that into account so the fact the PL259 is not a perfect 50 ohms won't cause a loss.
It's not like putting a non-50ohm connection in the middle of the cable run.

Thanks, that was the information I was seeking

For an 18m run I'd use RG8X. It will give you about 40% loss in the cable. RG58 over that distance will lose about 65%. RG213 is even lower loss, of course, but more difficult to handle.
Contrary to some wild statements you see from time to time, insertion loss on a PL259 is minimal, a fraction of a db, as lw395 rightly says.
You can buy an 18m RG8X cable kit from Glomex with an FME connector on each end. Onto these connectors you can screw a PL259 - no soldering or crimping required. They aren't quite as easy to thread through tight spaces as bare cable ends but they're OK for most applications. Then you can connect to a decent antenna.

I am leaning towards the RG8x or RG213 and get a native PL259 installed on both ends. Not sure if I got enough space between the headlining and the deck gland for the 213 (4" bend radius in case of the Belden one).

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Salty John’s Mantas had a PL-259. This was good because it allowed me to connect my choice of very good coax from a radio specialist. Can’t remember the designation offhand, but it was almost as thick as the plug and had complete braid coverage.

The only downside is all the French traffic I hear in the Solent ?

Pete

Adjust the squelch?

 

[G12]

You can get much better performance (less loss) than RG8X for virtually the same cable diameter. Better than the larger RG213 infact.
MESSI & PAOLONI ULTRAFLEX 7 - better than RG213 but near to the size of Mini 8 Coaxial Cable, DC Cable, DC Distribution at £1.55 | Ham Radio

I link to ML&S but there are several suppliers in the UK. Worth every penny.