Coax & Connectors

What this page is for

A good antenna system can be weakened by poor feedline, poor connectors, or poor installation.
This page focuses on the path between your radio and the antenna.

Why coax matters

Feedline loss increases with frequency. A coax choice that seems fine on HF may be far less forgiving on VHF and UHF.

Connector types you will run into

PL-259 / SO-239: common in HF work and older equipment.
BNC: convenient and common on test gear and handheld setups.
N connectors: strong choice where weather resistance and higher-frequency performance matter.
Adapters: useful when needed, but every extra connection is another possible problem point.

Real-world note

A great antenna with poor coax is like a good engine with a bad driveshaft. The system is only as good as the weakest part.

Feedline loss in plain language

Longer run: more loss.
Higher frequency: more loss.
Cheaper coax: often more loss and less durability.
Water intrusion: a major performance killer.

What good installation looks like

Solid connector work.
Proper strain relief.
Weatherproofing where needed.
Routing that avoids unnecessary stress and sharp bends.

Why this sometimes does not work

Cheap coax used where loss matters.
Poorly installed connectors.
Moisture in the line.
Assuming all feedline behaves the same.

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Feedline and connector quality matter more than many operators expect.
It is worth doing this part once and doing it properly.