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The Great Coax Mystery Does Coax Length Really Matter
One of the biggest myths in amateur radio has nothing to do with antennas... it's the coax connecting your radio to them.
Does coax really have to be 18 feet long? Can changing the length of your feedline lower your SWR? What exactly is velocity factor, and why does everyone seem to have a different answer?
This week on Brew & Activate, we're diving into another ham radio rabbit hole to separate physics from folklore. We'll explain velocity factor in plain English, explore why coax behaves the way it does, and connect the dots between transmission lines, SWR, resonance, impedance, and real-world station performance.
Whether you're building a portable POTA station, setting up your first HF antenna, or just trying to understand why your analyzer says one thing and your radio says another, this episode will help you make sense of what your coax is really doing—and what it isn't.
*************************************************************
Affiliate Links:
I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.
Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/
Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/
Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com
SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com
SHOW LINKS:
Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv
Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/
Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop
POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list
Guests/Hosts:
Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht
Help Support the Channel:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR
Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur
N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop
Follow me on:
Website: https://n1jur.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527
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By Brew & Activate - N1JUROne of the biggest myths in amateur radio has nothing to do with antennas... it's the coax connecting your radio to them.
Does coax really have to be 18 feet long? Can changing the length of your feedline lower your SWR? What exactly is velocity factor, and why does everyone seem to have a different answer?
This week on Brew & Activate, we're diving into another ham radio rabbit hole to separate physics from folklore. We'll explain velocity factor in plain English, explore why coax behaves the way it does, and connect the dots between transmission lines, SWR, resonance, impedance, and real-world station performance.
Whether you're building a portable POTA station, setting up your first HF antenna, or just trying to understand why your analyzer says one thing and your radio says another, this episode will help you make sense of what your coax is really doing—and what it isn't.
*************************************************************
Affiliate Links:
I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers.
Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/
Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/
Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com
SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com
SHOW LINKS:
Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv
Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/
Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop
POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list
Guests/Hosts:
Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht
Help Support the Channel:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR
Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur
N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop
Follow me on:
Website: https://n1jur.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527