I was told today LMR-400 is overrated

[bullet]

I was told I did not need LMR400 and it was not as good as some think. All the sites I looked at show that it has the lowest resistance. Let me know what you think.

[TwentyTwo-Zero]

I think that the specs, construction & quality of materials used makes it speak for itself. I guess if I were a shady salesman trying to make a buck I might bad mouth it and try to sell you something cheaper (that I have a greater profit margin on) but IMO it is one of the better cables available.

[KW KID]

This a funny post for me. Basically its true and false at the same time.

It is true is not as great as people think, over using rg8, or 213 when using it for CB 27mhz frequency. Basically at only 27Mhz (cb) any cable has pretty low loss. It isn't until you get above 100Mhz were you see significant loss where the lmr400 shines. This is the false part.

It is false that lmr400 is not significantly better than rg8 or 213 when using it for 2 meter (144mhz) and up frequencies.

[PONY EXPRESS]

Funny someone would say LMR 400 is over rated. I bet they don't sell LMR 400 ..... Advantages of LMR 400 is 20 years of life compared to maybe 5-7 years with RG 8U or RG 213 U.
Lower loss means more signal on transmit and receive....... I run LMR 400 even in my mobile because yes it does make a difference..
I went to the UPS store the other day to ship out 2 large boxes and being a city letter carrier I was quietly listening to a clerk at UPS store tell a guy that he has never heard anybody who bought insurance through the post office ever get it back if item was damaged or lost. I finally spoke up and informed the guy I was a USPS city carrier and what he was saying was bogus.....he backed down big time on his statement with his customer.
[Please login or register to view this link]

[85]

Funny someone would say LMR 400 is over rated. I bet they don't sell LMR 400 ..... Advantages of LMR 400 is 20 years of life compared to maybe 5-7 years with RG 8U or RG 213 U.
Lower loss means more signal on transmit and receive....... I run LMR 400 even in my mobile because yes it does make a difference..
I went to the UPS store the other day to ship out 2 large boxes and being a city letter carrier I was quietly listening to a clerk at UPS store tell a guy that he has never heard anybody who bought insurance through the post office ever get it back if item was damaged or lost. I finally spoke up and informed the guy I was a USPS city carrier and what he was saying was bogus.....he backed down big time on his statement with his customer.
[Please login or register to view this link]

20 years of service life for LMR-400 and 5-7 years for RG-8U or 213???????????
Does the LMR400 have a magical outer covering??? :wink:

[lonesome 500]

Funny someone would say LMR 400 is over rated. I bet they don't sell LMR 400 ..... Advantages of LMR 400 is 20 years of life compared to maybe 5-7 years with RG 8U or RG 213 U.
Lower loss means more signal on transmit and receive....... I run LMR 400 even in my mobile because yes it does make a difference..
I went to the UPS store the other day to ship out 2 large boxes and being a city letter carrier I was quietly listening to a clerk at UPS store tell a guy that he has never heard anybody who bought insurance through the post office ever get it back if item was damaged or lost. I finally spoke up and informed the guy I was a USPS city carrier and what he was saying was bogus.....he backed down big time on his statement with his customer.
[Please login or register to view this link]

anything with a U rating......is bury ready....and 20 year......if it is spec

the only way 400 isn't over rated at 27 megacycles.......is if you are running over 5kw rms

a good rg8u at 2kw rms.......or 9913f [lowest loss] at 7kw pep.....is fine

[jessejamesdallas]

LMR 400, and LMR 240 are both Probably the best you can get...I run the LMR 240 in my van mostly because it's smaller in diameter, and a little easier to work with.

Only down side I have ran across, is it's a little harder to get the connectors on, without shorting out on the metal film that covers the center conductor wire...You need to scrap that stuff off, without damaging the foam around the center wire...which is easier said than done sometimes....

[TwentyTwo-Zero]

20 years of service life for LMR-400 and 5-7 years for RG-8U or 213???????????
Does the LMR400 have a magical outer covering???

From Times Microwave Web site:

• LMR® standard is a UV Resistant Polyethylene jacketed
cable designed for 20-year service outdoor use. The
bending and handling characteristics are significantly better
than air-dielectric and corrugated hard-line cables.

• Weatherability: LMR-400 cables designed for
outdoor exposure incorporate the best materials for UV
resistance and have life expectancy in excess of 20 years.

• Flexibility and bendability are hallmarks of the LMR-
400 cable design. The flexible outer conductor enables
the tightest bend radius available for any cable of similar
size and performance.

• Low Loss is another hallmark feature of LMR-400.
Size for size LMR has the lowest loss of any flexible cable
and comparable loss to semirigid hard-line cables.

Yep, it's that good...

[80 meter man]

If you want to go with the best go with the Times Microwave Cable called "LMR". Great stuff!! Especially if you can get it at surplus prices!! I can get Real LMR-600 for 99c a foot!!!!!! I use it for all my antennas even though I don't get an advantage over a 213 type cable. I just like using the best. As long as I can get LMR-600 for that price that's the only cable that will go in the air at my house. If you heard someone badmouthing LMR cable it was most likely because he didn't sell it and he had a bunch of lesser quality cable in his back room he wanted to sell you. Not that other cables are not good cables. As said you wont notice a difference in output but you will notice a difference in service life. My 2c!!

[lonewolf]

lmr 400 is a good coax. Whoever said its was overrated is a nut or a scam is it perfect no but it is a great coax either way If you are not running a lot of power its kinda overkill or at least i have always been told that.

[bullet]

Thanks guys I know ya'll will tell me like it is. I got 140 foot of times microwave for 114.23 with shipping. That is $0.82 per foot. Did I do good? It is guaranteed to be the real thing.

[80 meter man]

Thanks guys I know ya'll will tell me like it is. I got 140 foot of times microwave for 114.23 with shipping. That is $0.82 per foot. Did I do good? It is guaranteed to be the real thing.

Good job. Nice deal. You wont be disappointed with that cable.

[bullet]

I forgot to ask. where do I get the pl59 connects. Radio shack has one that solders on is it good. I purchase good coax now I want good connectors. I know they make a cheap one also solderless. No good. Is there a place to get good connector that I would not have to order them. Just hoping.

[80 meter man]

I forgot to ask. where do I get the pl59 connects. Radio shack has one that solders on is it good. I purchase good coax now I want good connectors. I know they make a cheap one also solderless. No good. Is there a place to get good connector that I would not have to order them. Just hoping.

The ones from RS are OK but expensive. If you order them from a sponsor they will be better quality and cheaper.