Optimal cable/connectors for 6700 receive antennas

Ria

I currently use some F connectors and a bunch of adapters I had in the junque box for my receive antennas. Works well, but I am wondering if it could work better. I tried BNC to F (for CCTV cameras) but those adapters are 75 ohms and it appears as though the Flex uses a 50 ohm BNC.

What is best for feeding receive antennas to your 6500 or 6700? What do you use?

George KF2T

I've taken to using LMR240 jumpers with BNC connectors for all receive-only paths in my shack. On transmit, UHF or N connectors and RG213 or LMR400 as frequency dictates. Keeps me from getting my wires getting too crossed.

Not a fan of the F connector, but in a pinch I guess they're better than clip leads :-)

Ria

For receive antennas they are standard, I thought. I have Beverages and they are all fed with RG6. Cheap and it works. 

HCampbell WB4IVF

Ria –

I terminated all of my LMR240 and LMR400 cables, both Tx and Rx, with PL259s.  I use PL259/BNC adapters on the Flex Rx ports.  On the other end the PL259s connect directly to the SO239s on my Beverages, and to my DXE NCC-2 with PL259/BNC adapters.  On my active antennas I use PL259/F adapters.   For this application I doubt that 50/75 ohm adapter impedance mismatches or losses would make a noticeable difference.  I don’t use adapters on the Tx side however.

When I move my actives to their permanent place (about 600' from the house), I'll switch to flooded and much cheaper RG6.

Howard

K1UO Larry

Hi Ria,   I use these HI-Z 75 ohm to 50 Ohm for my 8 circle RX arrays and Beverages ...  I use one on each RX port of my 6700 along with a KD9SV Front End Saver (also from DXEngineering).
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/hiz-transformer

George KF2T

Not sure there's a "standard" beyond what works for you. I'm sure they are totally fine as long as they're installed well. Nice to avoid adapters if you can, but at MF, hardly a problem.

Ria

I meant standard as in nearly all commercial receive antenna products use them. I don't mind using something else, but my system is built around the standard that these manufacturers have. The F connector is not too bad. With a compression fitting it is pretty decent. 

Rob Fissel

Certainly less lossy than PL259, Ria. 

Ria

Correct! Although it matters little for receive antennas. 

DH2ID

N here all the way, for quick deconnect/fieldday/EMCOMM I have a lot of C connectors 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_connector
which you can't beat for stability. They are also watertight and take a lot of abuse (a car
braking on them isn't going to destroy them, although the cable might be torn).
I always take care to use selfamalgamating tape
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-amalgamating_tape
which is also good aboard ship...
Alex - DH2ID

Peter K1PGV

No love for the N Connector? C'mon... that's MY favorite! Peter K1PGV

DH2ID

See above, Peter, at least ONE N connector lover here ;-)

Alex_KM5YT

Another N-type afficionado here.  Noting also their use on the Hilberling PT-8000.

Alex/KM5YT

Rick - WC8D

A look back in history as to how 50 ohm coax came to be the standard may be informative. It turned out that 75 ohm coax worked the best on receive and 25 ohm coax the best on transmit. Take the average and you have 50 ohms! So for receive only applications, I would go with 75 ohm coax (RG-6 looks like the lowest loss and least expensive) and a BNC connector that fits the one on the radio.
No religion on connectors here....I use UHF/N/BNC/SMA depending on the application.

Rick/WC8D