oz1sejWhat type of 50 Ω coaxial cable should I use for VHF, UHF and S-band with crimp-on SMA connectors? Cable run lengths up to a few meters. Reception only.
Onno (VK6FLAB)For the purpose of transmitting or receiving?
Indeed I am, and thank you for your kind words!
As for coax, RG316 seems to be popular, but I have only ever used pre-made patch leads. I use SMA throughout my shack and essentially adapt all other connectors to SMA.
You haven’t ever made your own cable?
I have, just not SMA, crimped or otherwise.
if you have settled on that as a standard connector, you can make a good buy out of 50m of LMR240UF, a crimping tool frame, die set matching the cable/connector, and 10 packs of Amphenol SMA connectors.
You might get both male and female SMA since female will match a lot of handheld radios, and you can make “extension cords” with one end male and the other female, and you can mount the female ones through a hole in an enclosure or feedthrough plate.
It’s also nice to have a few UHF/PL259 and N connectors - invariably you will have some equipment with them.
Then you would be equipped to make exactly the right length cables with exactly the right connectors and known high-quality materials.