Marine grade LMR 400 coax

[F51]

It is time to install the new VHF antenna. I have a 96' run from the top of the mainmast to the nav station. The old cable was RG8 which has a loss of 4.7dB per hundred feet at 150MHz. RG213 has a loss of 2.8 dB under the same conditions, while LMR400 shows only 1.5 dB loss. That is a significant enough difference to make it a candidate. However, I can't find any source for LMR400 in a marine version. I know that LMR is used extensively in some pretty harsh environments in cellular towers, so I am wondering if not having tinned conductors is a big deal. Anybody know where to obtain LMR400 in a marine version?

[btrayfors]

I doubt if it's a big deal, providing the coax is properly terminated and waterproof.

However, I think you might be happy with LMR-400UF which has a tinned copper outer braid.

A good source is The RF Connection: therfc.com

Bill

[Rhapsody-NS27]

I've used one type of LMR cable for an Amateur Radio setup once. Good cable. Had it up for 6yrs until I took my tower down and sold the house. Never any issues.

Another site you can try is: www.cablexperts.com

[Wotname]

I second Bill's opinion, I have installed LMR400UF (among others) on off-shore oil platforms and the like and it performs well in harsh exposed marine environments over the years providing the connectors are terminated properly and well sealed.