How to Test Coaxial Cable: Continuity and Loss Measurement Guide
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- Are you struggling with coaxial cable issues? In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the essential steps to test coaxial cables for continuity and loss measurement. Whether you're a professional technician or a DIY enthusiast, understanding how to properly assess your coaxial cables is crucial for ensuring optimal performance in your Ham Shack In this video, you'll learn: - How to use a multimeter to check for continuity in your coaxial cable. - The importance of measuring signal loss and how to do it effectively. Follow our step-by-step instructions to ensure your coaxial cables are in top condition. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more helpful guides on cable testing and maintenance.
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Thank you so much The Smokin Ape! I really enjoy your videos! I will be studying for my Advanced Amateur Radio Certification in September ☺️📻
Glad you liked the video Mary, good luck on the test 👍
@@TheSmokinApeThank you!☺️
You always get good info across with a minimum amount of fluff and that's appreciated! And I noted you had that much loss over about 17 feet of coax. Imagine if it were for a dual-bander at the house that needed 50 or 100 feet to reach the antenna... Yowza! It's like they say, good coax ain't necessarily cheap, and cheap coax ain't necessarily good.
Hey JD. Yeah, 100’ would be terrible! Thanks for watching 👍
2:36 Zooms in by moving meter closer to camera .. Love it!
Like a boss!
@@TheSmokinApe 🤣🤣🤣
Great video Ape! I often take for granted that the coax I have on hand will work "good enough" for my application. I really should pay more attention do more testing.
The first time I tested a run of 58 and saw the loss I about fell on the floor 😮
Ya just don’t miss bud. Awesome video.
Thanks Big John 👍
That's the way we do that!
Damn right!
Nice one Ape. Did this the other week but was just lazy and used my Rigexpert.
😮 I’m kidding. Thanks for watching Colin 👍
Okay, this is useful info! When I QRP, I don't want to lose 1 DB! Going to test my feed lines now!
Haha, good luck!
Great information Ape. Thanks and 73
Thanks Barry 👍
Nice stuff Ape. As an ex sparky, I'd test cables with a megger at 1kv to check insulation resistance. I dont know if those test leads would take 1kv.🤔
Howdy Don!
Thanks APE, My lawn crew tests all my coax for me. lol
Haha, thanks for watching TJS 👍
@1:45 let me get out of the way 😂
Haha
What feed line is preferred ?
It really depends on the length of the run and the frequencies you intend to operate on, there isn’t a “best” for everything.
How does the nano vna compare to your using the spectrum analyzer, or can it
You can do the same test with the Nano: Unveiling the Truth: Measuring Coax Cable Loss for Ham Radio Beginners
ua-cam.com/video/ohu0onNgvCY/v-deo.html
I figured my spectrum was like yours. Mine not the X but is the plus one. almost the same. Well that RG 58A/U is pretty bad at UHF and would heat up under higher power levels. It will also cut your recieve . Good to test coax that way. They go bad either age of from bending or heating. I got some RG58C/U and has about half that loss. still some loss . but usable under 15 FT UHF . Made for British Military. I got big roll MIL spec Came from London ,England . It is RED and it don't melt when soldering. High temp. Now you can show us a TDR test and use that coax the lawn mower got. will give you the length to the break. I mow my own grass . not hard. Some of them weed wacker line can cut right through coax. The outherthing that hurts coax is driving over it. may not short but makes it loosey . Your test is great for that . Water getting into coax is bad as well. That is why you should test old coax and new before you use it. 73
Hey Robert, I agree. Test that coax! Thanks for watching 👍
Could you preform this cable testing with a NanoVNA? I ask because many of us have (or can afford) a NanoVNAs but I think your test equipment is probably more expensive than a NanoVNA.
I was wondering the same thing.
You can using an s21 logmag measurement, here is a video: Unveiling the Truth: Measuring Coax Cable Loss for Ham Radio Beginners
ua-cam.com/video/ohu0onNgvCY/v-deo.html
@@TheSmokinApe thanks professor Ape!
Thanks for watching 👍
Hello. Ape I have a question.
What's you take on making jumpers for your meters or antenna switches and so on.
I always have used 3 foot jumpers , is there a difference in marking a jumper at a certain wavelength just for using it for a meter or antenna switch. I know if you are making a matching stub you would do the math and make one for that.
@@Andy-up6li It’s probably worth pondering but I have always used 3,6 and 9 foot jumpers 🤷
When i was on the cb ride
There was always a thing of nulling your coax. Never really looked in to it.
PLug259
SOcket239
Like a wall plug, it has a pin(s) sticking out that the socket receives.
It’s the number I always get twisted
My SWR starts off good. After a minute or two it raises to 5+. Lmr 240. Water in the cable?? It's not the radio.
It could be water but something is definitely wrong
@@TheSmokinApeI should add that I see a 26 ohm short across shield to core now. I have had this issue before and removed some of each side and resoldered my Pl259. Evidently it didn't help. Eventually it becomes resonant again after some time left alone. It's not the antenna either. I'm just wondering how this happened. It's ultraflex and doubt I've been to too far.
Take the cable to a hamfest and if you can sell it the cable is good. 😂
Double my money!
A rig expert can help tell you if your cable is bad too. 😀
NanoVNA can do more for 1/5 the cost…