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T9B02

ANTENNAS AND FEED LINES · Feed lines: types, attenuation vs frequency, selecting; SWR concepts; Antenna tuners (couplers); RF Connectors: selecting, weather protection

T9B02T9B →

What is the most common impedance of coaxial cables used in amateur radio?

  1. A8 ohms
  2. B50 ohms
  3. C600 ohms
  4. D12 ohms
Why Amateur transmitters, transceivers, SWR meters, amplifiers and most antennas are all designed around a 50 ohm system, so the standard coax for ham use is 50 ohm cable such as RG-58, RG-8X, RG-8 and LMR-400. Matching the feed line impedance to the equipment keeps SWR low and power transfer efficient. The other common coax impedance in the world, 75 ohms, is the television and video standard, not the ham standard.
Watch out 600 ohms is roughly the characteristic impedance of open-wire or ladder line, a balanced feed line, not coax. The very low values like 8 or 12 ohms are not standard transmission line impedances at all.
Ham radio runs on 50: 50 ohm rigs, 50 ohm coax. 75 ohms is for TV, 600 ohms is ladder line.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
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The rest of T9B

  1. T9B01 Which of the following connectors should be carefully taped for weather protection when used outdoors?
  2. T9B02 What is the most common impedance of coaxial cables used in amateur radio?
  3. T9B03 Why is coaxial cable the most common feed line for amateur radio antenna systems?
  4. T9B04 What is the major function of an antenna tuner (antenna coupler)?
  5. T9B05 What happens as the frequency of a signal in coaxial cable is increased?
  6. T9B06 Which of the following connector types is most suitable as an RF connector for frequencies above 400 MHz?
  7. T9B07 Which of the following is true of PL-259 type coax connectors?
  8. T9B08 Which of the following is a source of loss in coaxial feed line?
  9. T9B09 What can cause erratic changes in SWR?
  10. T9B10 What is the electrical difference between RG-58 and RG-213 coaxial cable?
  11. T9B11 Which of the following types of feed line has the lowest loss?
  12. T9B12 What is standing wave ratio (SWR)?
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