This was great! I was able to find the problem with my coax. Had to re-install my connectors (test showed continuity when testing center pin with outer connector). Thanks!
To test the cable resistance with the terminator, you need to set your Multi-meter to 200 "OMS" and use the negative lead on the shield and positive on the conductor, then the closer you get to the advertised resistance (50 or 75 oms) , the better is the signal and the cable quality. The results your Tester gave are puzzling... The test should have reported a solid 50 OMS...
@@TheSmokinApe Related question: If a connector test (pin + outside connector) sounds off, then that connector is not correctly installed and I could try re-installing the BNC connector (I originally installed them, but troubleshooting why my cable doesn't work). Most probably, the outer layer of conductive mesh is touching the inner copper core?
Hmm, I'm trying to check the coax runs in my house but all videos related to checking the resistance are for patch cables. Do you have any recommendations for testing a coax cable where one end is in the basement and the other end is on the side of the house?
@@TheSmokinApe I'm not the person who originally asked, but let me know what you think about this idea: first test for a short between the shielding and the wire using one multimeter from one end of the cable, and when you know it is not shorted, could you then use both multimeters (one at each end) and put the negative probes on the shielding and each positive probe on the wire? I don't have two multimeters but I feel like that should cause both multimeters to beep, as they should be able to get continuity through each other, but I don't know for certain. What I do know for the original poster is that they'll need an antenna analyzer to properly test the run, since they don't already know what the resistance of the cable is, but if you know your antenna is 50 ohms then having the antenna connected in place of the dummy load should allow you to calculate the overall resistance just like in this video. But without being able to test the resistance of just the cable and fittings, you'd want an SWR meter to really be able to tell if it will work well in practice, correct? I'm not an operator yet, waiting to take my exam for the technician license and studying for the general while I wait!
So at the end of the test you say.."I dont know if the multimeter works, or if the reference resistance works." That's not really helpful when making a video about testing and searching for a fault :-)
Great video for beginners Ape. Awesome stuff keep this kind of content coming man
Thanks for checking it out Hayden 👍
This was great! I was able to find the problem with my coax. Had to re-install my connectors (test showed continuity when testing center pin with outer connector). Thanks!
Awesome HF, glad the video was helpful 👍
Thanks, this helped me determine I have a short.
Awesome Andrew, glad it was helpful 👍
Thanks a lot for your time, it really helped me
Glad it was helpful Liam
Perfect, just took down an antenna a few days ago because I am deaf on it, and trying to trace the issue. Thanks for the video.
Glad it was helpful 👍
“The reason I used this multi meter is because it was the one I could find”. That is exactly what I would do and say.
Haha 👍
Good vid Ape. Lots of the little things that a lot of folks, especially newer hams, don't think about.
Thanks Goodgame, I had the meter out and figured I’d post something. 👍
great video will try out for shorter cables
Thanks for watching Francisco 👍
For the love of all that is holy!!!.lol....I was dying with the tone. Coax has a tendency to get abused, def a good idea to make those checks!
Lol... I actually adjusted the volume of that down when editing 😂
To test the cable resistance with the terminator, you need to set your Multi-meter to 200 "OMS" and use the negative lead on the shield and positive on the conductor, then the closer you get to the advertised resistance (50 or 75 oms) , the better is the signal and the cable quality. The results your Tester gave are puzzling... The test should have reported a solid 50 OMS...
Thanks SJ, I was testing continuity...
It looked to me like the red lead was grounding out on the twist lock.. Meter should have been reading 50 Ohms...
If it fails any test then do not use? Or with the shield you can use but expect high noise floor?
Don’t use it unless it’s repairable, checking the connectors and such. Sometimes with long ones you can cut them into a few shorter good cables.
@@TheSmokinApe Related question: If a connector test (pin + outside connector) sounds off, then that connector is not correctly installed and I could try re-installing the BNC connector (I originally installed them, but troubleshooting why my cable doesn't work). Most probably, the outer layer of conductive mesh is touching the inner copper core?
Hmm, I'm trying to check the coax runs in my house but all videos related to checking the resistance are for patch cables. Do you have any recommendations for testing a coax cable where one end is in the basement and the other end is on the side of the house?
You can use a terminator or a reference standard.
Not much use if you're trying to find if there's a break between a roof antenna and TV.
Greetings, on your last test, measuring resistance, what should the number be…? Yours looked to be roughly 9 and mine looks to be 50😮 thank you
Hey Eman, most coax is 50 or 75 ohm… I’m sure you’re fine.
Where do you get the resistor device, the dummy load, you connected at the end of the video, do you have a link?
This isn't the one I used, but similar: amz.run/5uNH
For testing coax these days you should be using a 75ohm resistor.
Thanks man!
Why?
Can I use two multi meters on a 50 m run of cable. I don't have a load.
You mean a cable that is already ran? I'm not sure I understand but as far as I know you can't connect the two meters.
@@TheSmokinApe I'm not the person who originally asked, but let me know what you think about this idea: first test for a short between the shielding and the wire using one multimeter from one end of the cable, and when you know it is not shorted, could you then use both multimeters (one at each end) and put the negative probes on the shielding and each positive probe on the wire? I don't have two multimeters but I feel like that should cause both multimeters to beep, as they should be able to get continuity through each other, but I don't know for certain.
What I do know for the original poster is that they'll need an antenna analyzer to properly test the run, since they don't already know what the resistance of the cable is, but if you know your antenna is 50 ohms then having the antenna connected in place of the dummy load should allow you to calculate the overall resistance just like in this video. But without being able to test the resistance of just the cable and fittings, you'd want an SWR meter to really be able to tell if it will work well in practice, correct?
I'm not an operator yet, waiting to take my exam for the technician license and studying for the general while I wait!
Yes you can put a 75ohm restor on the other end
How to test Impedance of this cable if it says it's 75 ohms?
You would need something that measures actual impedance not resistance.
how to know the ohms of a coax cable? please help me
Do you know what type of coax it is?
@@TheSmokinApe me too i want to know what type of cable is that. because i have R-G6 cable at home is it ok to use?
@@mevlogs194 RG-6 is a 75 ohm cable mostly used for TV / cable. What are you planning to do with it?
@@TheSmokinApe i am planning to use it to make D.I.Y for 2 way radio antenna
Sorry you have to use 75 ohm resistor for a 75 ohm cable.
That’s a 50ohm cable 👍
typical CB radio guy
Exactly
Dud , you way behind ,multi meter with unauthorized fitting, without barrel !
Really?!
So at the end of the test you say.."I dont know if the multimeter works, or if the reference resistance works." That's not really helpful when making a video about testing and searching for a fault :-)