Where to buy RG 8X cable?

[John_Clarke]

I have had two Vtronix VHF aerials with RG 58C/U fitted to them. They both failed after about 5 years (all connections made below deck). I would like to try using a better cable and fitting it to say a Metz Manta 6 antenna.

Do you know where to buy 23 m of good quality RG 8X cable in the UK?

 

[Elemental]

http://www.rocketradio.co.uk

Plenty listed on google too,,,,

 

[machurley22]

Why not our very own Salty John? Where are you sourcing the Metz?

 

[KRG]

Salty John supplied me with the cable and a Metz aeriel. Having tried 3 other aeriel/cable combinations that failed very quickly I can say the metz aerial and cable from Salty J has been a much welcomed success.

 

[John_Clarke]

Thanks for the replies. I did not realise that Salty John sells the cable too. I will give him a ring.

 

[lw395]

I'm not sure that RG8X will last any longer than RG58.
The life of a coax cable, from an RF engineers point of view, is 'until shortly after moisture gets in'.
On a yacht this is largely dictated by the quality of the connectors and whether they are fitted properly.
Different cables will have different dielectrics with more or less water resistance, and the best will have silver plated (or even gold plated) braid, but corrosion of the braid is normally the failure route once water gets in. Just exposure to damp air over time is damaging.
5 years is not too bad a lifetime for a VHF cable outdoors. When a cable is this old, it may be worth cutting a few inches off to see how the braid is faring, then fitting a new connector if it still looks new, and a new cable other wise. The bit of cable at the top of the mast that gets all the UV is probably the weak point. I tape mine up to shield it from the sun.
Make sure the connector is the right one for the cable. If the aerial connects directly to the cable, check it is compatible.
Avoid those appalling pl259 connectors that do not seal the cable, if you cannot get a proper pl259, use a decent bnc and an adaptor.

 

[John_Clarke]

Thanks. I will follow your example and tape up the exposed cable at the mast head and also at deck level. I hope that if I use good quality amalgamating tape to cover from the shaft at the bottom of the antenna up to the masthead plate it will extend the life significantly. Time will tell. It might even be worth sealing the cable entry into the PL295 plug at the radio.