MPD Digital

Times Microwave Coaxial Cable Loss & Power Handling

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:46:43 +0000

Testing Results for US Made LMR Coax

Attenuation (Signal Loss) per 100/ft – (lower numbers are better)

Attention: There are many unknown companies quoting the same specs as Times Microwave and Andrew
/ Commscope Coaxial cable.

There are some issues with this:

Cheaper grades of cable may Start
with the same loss but can quickly degrade over time with
significant signal loss.
The Inner foil layer below the braided shield is bonded to the
foam dielectric in a patented process that prevents signal leakage and
moisture infiltration Only on US Made Times Microwave Coaxial Cable.
True Mil Spec testing criteria is not followed by many Chinese offshore
producers and when retested by UL cable has repeatedly failed to pass
muster.
When subjected to standardized quality testing – Jacket materials, Copper alloys, and Dielectric Foam
have been found to be adulterated and containing contaminants.
While there are quality Coaxial Cable producers in China and other offshore locations
they mainly produce cable for major brand name retailers who provide
their own quality control, and do not sell off cable under “generic” or offbrand names.

Coax Cable Loss is Frequency Dependent – The Higher your Frequency the More
Important your Coax Loss Is Measured in DB per 100 feet

Frequency / Band	TimesLMR-240	TimesLMR-400	AndrewCNT-400	RG-8/URG-213/U
7 Mhz (40 meters)	0.64	0.33	0.33	0.49
14 Mhz (20 meters)	0.91	0.46	0.46	0.70
28 Mhz (10 meters & CB)	1.29	0.65	0.65	1.01
50 Mhz (6 meters)	1.73	0.88	0.88	1.36
144 Mhz (VHF)	2.95	1.50	1.50	2.38
220 Mhz (VHF)	3.66	1.87	1.87	3.00
450 Mhz (UHF)	5.28	2.71	2.71	4.46
900 Mhz (UHF)	7.56	3.90	3.90	6.64
1.5 Ghz (MW)	9.87	5.12	5.12	8.99
2.5 Ghz (MW, WiFi)	12.93	6.76	6.76	12.32
5.8 Ghz (MW, WiFi)	20.35	10.8	10.8	21.28

Coaxial Cable Power Handling

Power Capacity In Watts By MHz	30	50	150	220	450	900	1500	2000
Times Microwave LMR-240®	1490	1150	660	540	380	260	200	170
Times Microwave LMR-400®	2100	1700	1000	830	550	380	290	250

About MPD Digital

Managed and operated by Kim Nelson, MPD
Digital is a DBA of Kimberly Distribution LLC. From our
production facility in Albany, Georgia, Kim has been making coaxial
cable assemblies using US Made components with thousands sold to
Amateur Radio operators, Public Institutions and the US Military.
We are a Small, Veteran Owned, HubZone certified business.

Contacting Us

Toll Free: 1-888-624-0480 or Click
Here Note: While we try
to answer all phone calls, if you call in the afternoon all of us may
be in production so you may get voicemail.

What to Know Prior to Buying Coax for WIFI use | Wireless Coax

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:44:35 +0000

Wifi Coax Selection and antenna placement is both an art and science. As a general rule selecting a better coaxial cable for your wireless antenna and proper placement will triple your current range. It is difficult to tell when spending a little more on coaxial cable will get you better wireless reception. Chinese manufacturers are becoming well known for substituting off brand and substandard copper alloys and poor quality jacket material in an attempt to keep profit margins up. Reduction of quality standards for components used in wire and jackets can produce big savings for the manufacturers. The Genuine US made Times Micro produced LMR-400 coax sold by MPD Digital and USACOAX is far superior to and should not be mistaken for the poor (or even decent looking) counterfeits calling themselves LMR400 that are offered by many sellers.

Buying generic or fake coax for microwave (wifi) use is playing russian roulette. Major brands who source offshore maintain their own quality engineers to test and monitor cable produced for them. Guess where the cable that fails their inspections goes? There are other companies still making quality cable in the US other than Times Microwave, but LMR-400 sets the standard. But by all means, do your Homework!

Times Microwave makes the finest cables in the world here in the US and there is a huge difference between them and the cheap stuff! A good cable assembly takes into consideration Ham, CB or WiFi system requirements and is selected to meet specific transmission requirements. Mass market antennas and cable where the same components are used regardless of
frequency or use are common in every big box store. By considering the specific application you will use your LMR cable assembly and antennas for you can assemble a transmission system that is far superior to any you can buy for twice the price.

LMR400 and LMR240 provide much lower loss and greater RF shielding than old style RG58 series cables. Times LMR-400 and LMR-240 low loss coax cables have RF performance comparable to traditional hard corrugated copper cables, but also offer flexibility, non-kinking and easy, fast connector installation that hard line cable can’t match. Times Microwave’s LMR240 or LMR 400 cables are the leading technology employed by Ham, CB, and WiFi users worldwide.

Coaxial cable for microwave (802.11 2.4 GHz WiFi) has to maintain the signal from your transmitter to your antenna without loss. The type of Coax Cable you use and how it is made is critical. The higher the frequency you operate on the more important cable choice becomes. Cable that will easily support a CB antenna installation will fail if used for microwave transmission. Your choice will affect the frequencies you can operate with, the amount of power you can use, how much signal actually makes it to the antenna, ease of use and of course Price.

Common Chinese made RG-58 from Radio Shack or other outlets is NOT the best you can do for coaxial cable and will lower your effective signal out! Used only for VERY short runs since it loses almost a DB per foot at microwave frequencies and is still very loss prone at CB freqs. The smallest gauge cable recommended is LMR-240 which can be used for short
lengths in WiFi use and longer runs with CB. LMR400 From Times Micro remains the best overall choice for best transmission line.

Prior to wasting money on coax that won’t provide the best service for you check out another of Kim’s articles Like When is the right time to replace your coax cable? Kim has been operating her cable business on eBay as Sagemaiden and Amazon for years selling thousands of Times Microwave LMR-400 US Made coax cable assemblies. Kim never sells cheapo Commie Cable and builds custom made cable assemblies to user specifications.

LMR Coaxial Cable Counterfeiting Rises

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:42:36 +0000

In order to combat a sharp rise in the instances of off-shore manufacturers counterfeiting Underwriters Laboratories testing labels to make their goods look legitimate, UL has introduced a new Holographic Label to make it more difficult for cheaters to copy coaxial cable. Citing issues in “certain geographic regions” UL has required all legitimately tested products to bear the new label. USAcoax has known for a long time that some Chinese and other coax cable manufacturers were faking test results and certifications for cable standards where you often see LMR400 coax cable “equivalent to” Times Microwave, Commscope or other quality coax manufacturers.

In an effort to fight the penetration of counterfeit cable into the communications cabling market, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) now requires manufacturers of communications cables bearing the UL mark to use holographic labels on the smallest unit container in which the cable is packaged. The requirement went into effect October 1 and UL required
cable manufacturers to destroy all non-holographic labels by that date. The following cable types are subject to the holographic-label requirement.

Communications cable
Communications cable verified to UL Performance Category Program
Data transmission cable verified in accordance with national or international specifications
Community antenna television cables
Data processing cable
Non-power-limited fire-alarm cable
Instrumentation tray cable
Network powered broadband communications cable
Optical fiber cable
Power-limited circuit cable

UL’s anti-counterfeiting program now includes Coaxial cable

UL’s mission is public safety and we take that responsibility seriously. Because goods with counterfeit UL Marks can be hazardous, UL has developed a comprehensive anti-counterfeiting program to prevent products bearing counterfeit UL Marks from entering the stream of commerce.

Because consumers, retailers, regulators, manufacturers and distributors rely on the UL Mark of safety, we’ve invested in building a dedicated team of professionals whose sole responsibility is to oversee the protection of UL’s intellectual property. Since 1995, this team has worked with law enforcement and provided UL Mark authentication training to customs
officials around the world. As early as 1993, UL recognized the threat of product counterfeiting and incorporated anti-counterfeiting technology into our labeling format.

UL’s strategy for protecting the UL Mark from would-be counterfeiters is built on three pillars: enforcement, education and partnerships. Each pillar represents a vital component of UL’s overall anti-counterfeiting program. Maximum impact is achieved when all three tactics are used together.

Anti-counterfeiting operations – Coax and Communications Cable

Product counterfeiting is a thriving multi-billion dollar global industry. It is highly profitable and the risks of significant legal consequences are low. From CD’s and DVD’s to high-end handbags, sunglasses and pharmaceuticals — no products are immune from the potential for counterfeiting.

Counterfeiters will copy and sell anything that turns a profit without regard to quality, safety or the law. They manufacture goods as cheaply as possible with the single goal of maximizing their return. The costs of counterfeiting are shared by all — consumers, manufacturers, retailers, communities and entire economies.

For almost 15 years, UL has taken an aggressive stance against counterfeiting through a comprehensive program that involves law enforcement agencies from around the world. UL works closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI, the RCMP, INTERPOL and other law enforcement agencies around the world to provide them with the information necessary to distinguish between authentic and counterfeit UL Marks.

Since 1995, there have been thousands of seizures of counterfeit products at entry ports from coast to coast; preventing millions of products bearing counterfeit UL Marks from reaching consumers. In addition, UL has mandated the use of holographic labels for product categories targeted by counterfeiters.

UL has a zero tolerance policy for counterfeit goods and does not consent to the import, export, or manipulation of seized merchandise carrying a counterfeit UL Mark. The mission of UL’s anti-counterfeiting program is three-fold — first and foremost, to protect the safety of consumers around the world from the hazards of counterfeit electrical products,
secondly, to preserve the integrity of UL’s family of Marks, and finally, to provide additional value to the legitimate, responsible manufacturers that have invested the time and resources to meet UL’s safety standards.

Roughly 21 billion UL Marks appear on products entering the stream of commerce each year. Although counterfeit UL Marks have been detected on electrical products, this represents only a small fraction of all UL Marks used annually. However, even one counterfeit UL Mark is one too many, given the safety concerns involved in the certification of electrical products.

How to spot fakes

While it may sometimes be difficult to identify counterfeit goods, counterfeiters are often sloppy in their work. Consumers should be cautious of products found at deep discount stores that are packaged in boxes that do not display the brand, product name or certification label on the box or the product itself. Make sure to look for a reputable certification mark on the box and on the product.

Underwriters Laboratories additional information

USAcoax and MPD Digital source and purchase the coaxial cable and other items we sell directly from Times Microwave, Commscope, Andrew and their factory reps by the pallet. We do not purchase from questionable sources. For many years we have maintained a 100% guarantee and Free Returns policy and back up every cable we sell. We are able to maintain our low prices by purchasing in large bulk lots and producing cable assemblies to order.

New Discount Source for LMR Ham/CB/WiFi Radio Coax Cables

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:40:22 +0000

MPD Digital and http://USAcoax.com have opened a new on-line web store providing discount pricing on US Made Times Microwave LMR-400 and LMR-240 coaxial antenna and jumper cables. Amateur and wifi radio operators now have a source providing custom cables & connectors assembled for their specific applications at low wholesale pricing.

Leesburg, GA (PRWEB) December 1, 2010

MPD Digital announces the opening of a new website offering wholesale and discount pricing for US Made Times Microwave LMR-400 and LMR-240 Amateur Ham CB and Wifi coaxial cables. After many years selling Times Microwave coax cable assemblies on eBay, Amazon and Sears, MPD has opened USAcoax.com to offer substantial savings to individuals who wish to purchase custom cable assemblies for their needs. USAcoax.com’s unique ordering and selection process allows users to select either LMR-400 or LMR-240 cable by Times Microwave in any length. After selecting their cable type, buyers have a choice of over 160 connector combinations to meet their specific operating requirements. USAcoax offers an industry first guarantee on it’s products. If any coax cable assembly fails to meet a customers needs USAcoax will provide a 100% refund to include shipping costs both ways.

Follow the Story

Coaxial Cable Attenuation and Selection Criteria

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:38:20 +0000

With all coaxial cables the loss of power/signal between the radio and antenna is identified as attenuation. It is defined in terms of decibels per unit length, and at a given frequency. The frequency used during operation, and attenuation are closely linked variables. The higher the frequency the more loss per foot. Since attenuation and frequency loss vary greatly by cable type, the higher your operating frequency the more critical your coax selection becomes. Some coaxial cable that loses .1 DB per foot at 300MHz will see attenuation of 2 DB per foot at 3GHz.

Times Microwave LMR400 is completely different than the cheap Chinese coax with poor copper alloys and variable dielectric resulting in transmission power loss. So where does all this lost power go? Badly made cables with substandard conductors loose power during transmissions causing them to overheat. With radio transmitters you’ll notice cheap coax heating up after several minutes of operation which is definitely not what you want.

Times Microwave technology uses a center conductor bonded with pure copper for the lowest transmission loss. The inner conductor is shielded by a high tech low loss foam dielectric separating it from the second transmission channel. The outer channel composed of metal tape and tinned copper braid serves as a ground. To achieve maximum transmission to antennas with lowest signal loss LMR-400 coax provides the best option.

The attenuation of coax cables increases greatly over a period of time for a number of reasons. The two main reasons are as a result of repeated flexing of the coax past the point of affecting the dielectric spacing, and moisture entry into the RF cable itself. Investing in higher quality cable is proven to result in less attenuation. The construction methods used and quality of material can result in cheaper coax looking the same as Time LMR-400 on the outside but having over 30% more attenuation over the length of the installation after 5 years. Balancing cost against desired service life is a consideration when installing or replacing coax. Lower quality cable “ages” faster. Attenuation increases as it is damaged easier and fails sooner.

The factors involved in getting a solid wireless signal throughout an area are many and varied. The primary system component that can help to extend your signal is the correct coax. The FCC regulates all wifi routers and adapters to ensure that all transmit the same amount of power. Only your coaxial cable and antenna can make a difference USAcoax and see the specials and deals available on Swiss Made Antennas and US made Times Microwave cable.

© 2010 Kimberly Distribution LLC dba MPD Digital (USACOAX.com) , All rights reserved.
Unauthorized duplication or publication of any materials from this Site is expressly prohibited.

Coaxial Cable for Modern Ham Radio | Selecting Your Coax

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:36:15 +0000

Coaxial Cable Selection for Ham and CB Radio

For some reason many Hams leave the selection of their transmission line till the last minute and don’t plan it in as a critical part of their system design. A wide variety of coaxial cables are on the market, and without using the proper planning and care your mega antenna may provide mini functionality. Most all standard audio and video feeds, including broadband internet, use 75 ohm coax. Transmission line for Ham, CB or WiFi antenna cable use is 50 Ohm coaxial cable except in very specific cases. After considering the resistance of the cable you use, the next big decision is what amount of loss you can accept in broadcasting to your antenna. Typically the lower the loss, the greater the diameter of the cable, and also the cost.

There are a huge number of choices. What you select doesn’t have to be expensive to work well but it MUST be high quality. Radio Frequency (RF) coaxial cable is widely used for a variety of professional, Ham and Wireless applications where RF power from a transmitter or to a receiver needs to be transferred from one point to another. RF coax cables act as the conduit for signals run between equipment as well as to the antenna. To ensure you get a good install with low VSWR and one that lasts there are a few items to take into consideration. One point of consideration is the vast difference between common RG type coax and the new standards like Times Microwave LMR-400.

First used for WWII, the RG set of coax cable specifications was taken from the old Radio Guide and used to define types of coaxial cable. The coaxial cable type designations established by the old RG MILSPEC have long been replaced in Military use with newer specifications for design and construction. In the Ham and Amateur Radio world RG still continues to be used mainly to define cable size and type due to the years it was an accepted standard. However it should be noted that the RG specifications are no longer maintained or validated by any organization so there is no guarantee to the exact specification for a particular type of coax cable.

Where once the old MILSPEC RG coaxial cable designation meant something. Today it has devolved into an accepted way to name coax cables to indicate their size and type. RG type cable purchased has no real standards defined, this applies to power capacity, transmission loss, and material quality and one brand can vary immensely from another. Standards for RG cable types can be totally defined by the maker in terms of transmission loss, rated VSWR, power handling and other requirements. If you are looking for coaxial cable that will meet your system requirements and not cause problems, check out the LMR cables from Times Microwave or another high quality producer making cable to modern ultra low loss standards.

Times Microwave LMR-400 and LMR-240 coaxial cable is made in the USA

© 2010 Kimberly Distribution LLC dba MPD Digital (USACOAX.com) , All rights reserved.
Unauthorized duplication or publication of any materials from this Site is expressly prohibited.

When is it the Right Time to Replace Your Coax Cable?

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:34:27 +0000

Replacing coax cables | LMR-400 or LMR-240 Transmission Line

Replacing a coaxial cable transmission line is a tough job and one that gets put off as long as we can! When fresh coaxial cable runs are installed they can perform perfectly, especially if they are the newer LMR cables rather than old RG-8 or 213. Water penetration, shielding loss and jacket abrasion will cause even the best coax to degrade over time. Many operators may not notice the slow decline of their ability to make contacts as less signal is carried through the coax to the antenna. Even though LMR-400 or LMR240 can last twice as long as the old RG, during installation of your transmission line take a few basic precautions to slow or prevent it’s decay.

By correctly installing a RF coax cable it can provide many years of satisfactory service. However wear, and exposure to the elements will mean that after some time it may be prudent to replace the RF coax cable. Operators may not realize the full extent their coax has allowed signals to degrade as loss occurs over a long slow period. As coaxial cable runs are replaced by newer cable users can see a nice increase in contacts.

One of the first steps is to read the specifications sheet for your cable type. Each manufacturer has it’s own standards defining bend radius. Kinking or bending coax sharper than the bend radius will damage the dielectric and result in increased transmission loss. If RF coax cable is bent beyond its limit then damage to the inner core of the cable may result. Kinking and sharp bends during install will cause permanent loss even after the coax is straightened.

Selecting a better quality longer lasting cable from Times Microwave can make installation easier. Even though the LMR series coaxial cables can bend in as little as 1 inch without attenuation, each manufacturer has it’s own standards defining bend radius. Don’t damage your coaxial cable assembly during installation by bending in a sharper curve than defined or you will cause higher VSWR and increased loss. Exceeding the bend specs will ensure poor service and shorter coax cable lifespan. Improper installation will result in much less performance than the design specifications.

Take care during coax installation to ensure that the cable is not crushed, or likely to be crushed. If RF coaxial cable is damaged in this way, the dimensions of the cable and dielectric are changed and it will not maintain the characteristic impedance. If the dielectric between the two concentric conductors in the coax cable is damaged, there is an increase in the level of loss.

Kim has been operating her cable business on eBay (SageMaiden) and Amazon for years selling only custom Times Microwave LMR-400 US Made coax cable assemblies. With thousands of cables sold and top-rated status on eBay she is setting up her first ecommerce site at http://USACoax.com as the title says, only US made coax with no Commie Cable sold! Before buying cable see her other articles: LMR-400 50ohm & 75 Ohm | Coaxial Cable and Transmission loss

LMR-240 Coaxial Cable | Times Microwave LMR240

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:32:36 +0000

Times Microwave LMR-240 coaxial cable is designed to provide low loss and years of service. Unlike cheap plastic chinese cables, Times Microwave builds LMR-240 here in the US to the highest standards possible with a high strength polyethylene jacket tested for 20 years UV resistance. The bending characteristics are significantly better than air-dielectric and corrugated hard-line cables offering the tightest bend radius available for any cable of similar size and performance. Size for size LMR240 has the lowest loss of any flexible cable and comparable loss to semi-rigid hard-line cables.

With a 3/4-inch minimum bend radius, LMR-240 cable can be easily routed into and through tight

Depending on your desired application the choice of connectors may be critical. USACoax & MPD Digital provides Times Microwave LMR240 jumper cable assemblies fabricated with LMR-240 cable and a variety of connector interface combinations. Insertion, phase and impedance matching coaxial cable assemblies are also available upon request. A good selection of connectors is available for LMR-240 cable as shown on the our connectors photos page at Cable-Connectors.info.

LMR-240 is designed to fill the niche for flexible, smaller diameter, ultra low loss coax cable for antenna cables or jumpers. LMR240 coax uses the same standard coaxial connector types but it is critical to match your cable connectors to your system design. Depending on if Reverse Polarity or Straight connectors are needed, types N, TNC, and SMA will usually provide the strongest signal retention with teh lowest loss.

Selecting LMR-240 for your system may provide the signal you are looking for. LMR-240 adheres to the Times Microwave Systems LMR® standard as a UV Resistant Polyethylene jacketed cable designed for 20-year service in outdoor use. Hardline Coaxial cable will operate with less loss and should be considered if you have the budget but for the vast majority of Ham and CB antennas Times LMR240 will give you comparable service and vastly superior flexibility. For its size LMR-240 provides the lowest available loss of any coaxial cable and matches the transmission efficiency of many semi-rigid cables.

Times LMR240 is designed and built to be significantly better shielded than cheaper RG8 and RG8x coax having more than 50dB additional isolation of transmitted signal. LMR 240 has an updated design producing more than 90dB of signal separation with a layered foil outer conductor being fused to the dielectric to assure proper spacing and lowest transmission loss. LMR240 cables may always be used indoors but are designed for outdoor exposure incorporating the best materials for UV resistance.

As SageMaiden, Kim has been running her custom coax business on eBay and Amazon for many years selling Times Micro LMR400 US Made coax cable assemblies. Kim never sells cheapo Commie Cable and has sold thousands of custom made cable assemblies. Before buying cable see her other articles: LMR-400 50ohm & 75 Ohm | Coaxial Cable and Transmission loss

Ham Radio Operators LMR-400 Transmission Line

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:30:32 +0000

When designing your antenna and transmission systems it is important to know the facts. Large companies who own factories overseas have an interest in maintaining quality control. Cable failing quality inspections is sold off to users on eBay falsely labeled as Times or another brand name. We sell other quality cables made in the US but Times Microwave LMR240 and LMR400 continues to be the best seller. Selecting the best cable for your application is important so please take your time and find the best…

Mainland Chinese manufacturers are becoming well known for substituting off brand dielectric, substandard copper alloys and adulterated jacket material in an attempt to keep profit margins up. The difference in materials price in making a jacket that lasts 20 vs.a few short years is substantial! The Genuine US made Times Microwave produced LMR400 coax sold by MPD Digital and USACOAX is far superior to and should not be mistaken for the poor (or even decent looking) counterfeits calling themselves LMR-400 that are offered by many sellers.

All Coaxial Cable is NOT created equal. Times LMR cables are totally different than the cheapee coax cables you find with poor design and pot metal alloys. What happens to the power lost by poor cable construction? Transmitter power lost as it travels down poor quality coax is radiated as heat. A problem with coaxial cables made with cheap substandard alloys is they begin to heat up as soon as power is applied. This is not good!

Times Micro LMR-400 includes one physical channel as the center wire of aluminum surrounded by pure copper that carries the signal without loss. Constant foam dielectric insulation surrounds the center conductor to separate it from the second transmission channel on the outside of the table. The outer channel of LMR-400 is the shield comprised of metal tape and and braided copper tinned for easy soldering. LMR-400 is specifically designed to achieve the lowest transmission losses at frequencies from 0-6GHz and can carry signals with the lowest loss to antennas over a great distance.

Times Microwave has invested millions in researching the cable the rest of the world is copying. When compared with old style RG type braided cables, LMR-240 or LMR-400 coaxial cables offer far lower loss and better RF shielding than RG8/U, RG8x and RG-58 50 Ohm Cables. In order to attain the low loss offered by standard hard corrugated coax cables but get the flexibility needed from average Ham and CB installs Times Microwave produces LMR400 and LMR240 standard and ultraflex type cable. Times Microwave’s LMR240/400 cables are the leading technology employed by Ham, CB, and WiFi users worldwide.

A good cable assembly takes into consideration Ham, CB or WiFi system requirements and is selected to meet specific transmission requirements. Mass market antennas and cable where the same components are used regardless of frequency or use are common in every big box store. With a little attention and some consideration of usage factors you can produce much stronger signals at a far lower cost than buying the pretty box on the shelf.

As SageMaiden, Kim has been running her custom coax business on eBay and Amazon for many years selling Times LMR400 US Made coax cable assemblies. Kim never sells cheapo Commie Cable and has sold thousands of custom made cable assemblies. Before buying cable see her other articles: LMR-400 50ohm & 75 Ohm | Coaxial Cable and Transmission loss
© 2010 Kimberly Distribution LLC dba MPD Digital (USACOAX.com) , All rights reserved.
Unauthorized duplication or publication of any materials from this Site is expressly prohibited.

Avoid Cheap Commie Cable | Times LMR-400 Coax

admin — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 12:37:26 +0000

Chinese manufacturers are becoming well known for substituting off brand and substandard copper alloys and poor quality jacket material in an attempt to keep profit margins up. The difference in cost in making a jacket that lasts 20 vs.5 – 10 years is substantial! The Genuine US made Times Micro produced LMR400 coax sold by MPD Digital and USACOAX is far superior to and should not be mistaken for the poor (or even decent looking) counterfeits calling themselves LMR-400 that are offered by many sellers. Major brands who source offshore maintain their own quality engineers to test and monitor cable produced for them. Guess where the cable that fails their inspections goes? Times Microwave is not the only quality coax cable producer still operating in the US we offer several other brands such as Commscope/Andrew and Coleman as well. But by all means, do your Homework!

50 Ohm cable Like Times Microwave LMR-400 or LMR-240 is required for transmission of Radio Signals to the proper antenna. This includes all of the Ham, CB, and Wireless (WiFi) antennas currently in use. Use of improper 75 Ohm Cable TV or digital coax cable and connectors will cause you to lose most of the signal you are trying to transmit. Quality 50 Ohm cable is more expensive to make than common 75 ohm coax. As materials costs rise t is becoming common for offshore
producers of coax to substitute 75 Ohm components in substandard manufacturing processes that also include cheaper or variable dielectric diameter and cheaper metals.

The type of Coax Cable you use and how it is made is critical. The higher the frequency you operate on the more important cable choice becomes. Cable that will easily support a CB antenna installation will fail if used for microwave transmission.
Your choice will affect the frequencies you can operate with, the amount of power you can use, how much signal actually makes it to the antenna, ease of use and of course Price. A good cable assembly takes into consideration all the above factors and is selected to meet specific use requirements. Mass market antennas and cable where the same components are used regardless of frequency or use are common in every big box store. With a little attention and some consideration of usage factors you can produce much stronger signals at a far lower cost than buying the pretty box on the shelf.