1. UKMicrowaves
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Ecoflex 15?

militaryoperator <Military1944@...>
 

Where's the best place to get a short length of Eco15, say 10ft, 3 to 4Mtrs?

I want to replace the LMR400 feeder I'm using now.

ebay has a German supplier, any in UK?

Ben.

Steve G4HTZ
 

DX shop and Nevada both advertise it 
--
Steve G4HTZ 
JO01JN60
Great Wakering, Essex 
24ghz 1.8w 80cm dish 

also known to be active occasionally on 70cms DATV 

militaryoperator <Military1944@...>
 

Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Ecoflex 15?

DX shop and Nevada both advertise it 
--
Steve G4HTZ 


Thanks Steve. Looking at specs just it seems LMR600 is better than the LMR400 and Eco15, just by a pip. 

ben.

Tim Hague M0AFJ <m0afj@...>
 

Try the DX Shop

Best Regards
Tim Hague M0AFJ


On 17 Feb 2021, at 19:51, militaryoperator via groups.io <Military1944@...> wrote:


Where's the best place to get a short length of Eco15, say 10ft, 3 to 4Mtrs?

I want to replace the LMR400 feeder I'm using now.

ebay has a German supplier, any in UK?

Ben.

Neil Smith G4DBN
 

I have plenty in my scrap bin after it went high loss from before I found out you should never bend it more than once....

DX Shop is always a good source of pre-terminated cables, done with a proper machine too.

Neil G4DBN

On 17/02/2021 19:51, militaryoperator via groups.io wrote:

Where's the best place to get a short length of Eco15, say 10ft, 3 to 4Mtrs?

I want to replace the LMR400 feeder I'm using now.

ebay has a German supplier, any in UK?

Ben.
_

Pete - GM4BYF
 

If Using Eco 15 The plugs must be the solder on type. I have used Times Microwave in preference.

73
Pete GM4BYF
On 17/02/21 21:08, Neil Smith G4DBN wrote:

I have plenty in my scrap bin after it went high loss from before I found out you should never bend it more than once....

DX Shop is always a good source of pre-terminated cables, done with a proper machine too.

Neil G4DBN

On 17/02/2021 19:51, militaryoperator via groups.io wrote:
Where's the best place to get a short length of Eco15, say 10ft, 3 to 4Mtrs?

I want to replace the LMR400 feeder I'm using now.

ebay has a German supplier, any in UK?

Ben.
_


--
vry 73
Pete GM4BYF

militaryoperator <Military1944@...>
 

I have plenty in my scrap bin after it went high loss from before I found out you should never bend it more than once....
.
Neil G4DBN

Ah, you have me worried now Neil. I use a telescopic push-up mast with either the 23, 13, 9 or 3Cm antenna on, occasionally more than one but the 10Ghz is 2Mtr down so any old bit of string is ok. 

I have a couple of lengths, about 10ft, for the 23, 13 or 9 feeds so there is some flexing needed though of course, the cable hangs vertically (tied to the mast as I erect it) with just the one bend at the bottom to go into the sets. 

Maybe the flexibility of the LMR400 is handy. The loss per 10ft )1500Mhz) would seem to be 0.51db for LMR400, 0.33db for LMR600 and 0.41db for eco15.

LMR600 might be a better choice. 

Ben.

Reg Woolley
 

Why not non solder? Crimp and or non solder have been the industry standard for years . Ldf 4 50 for example have been non solder for at least 20 years. Correctly fitted they are perfectly fine.

Reg G8vHI




Sent from my Galaxy


-------- Original message --------
From: "Pete - GM4BYF via groups.io" <gm4byf@...>
Date: 17/02/2021 21:40 (GMT+00:00)
To: UKMicrowaves@groups.io
Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Ecoflex 15?

If Using Eco 15 The plugs must be the solder on type. I have used Times Microwave in preference.

73
Pete GM4BYF
On 17/02/21 21:08, Neil Smith G4DBN wrote:

I have plenty in my scrap bin after it went high loss from before I found out you should never bend it more than once....

DX Shop is always a good source of pre-terminated cables, done with a proper machine too.

Neil G4DBN

On 17/02/2021 19:51, militaryoperator via groups.io wrote:
Where's the best place to get a short length of Eco15, say 10ft, 3 to 4Mtrs?

I want to replace the LMR400 feeder I'm using now.

ebay has a German supplier, any in UK?

Ben.
_


--
vry 73
Pete GM4BYF

Colin Ranson
 

The ECO-15 I have seen, (to a fixed antenna, no rotator) was like concrete filled hose pipe to handle.

I am pleasantly happy with Hyperflex 10 as a good all round compromise around rotators.  Not used hyperflex 13.

 

Colin de G8LBS.

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: militaryoperator via groups.io
Sent: 17 February 2021 22:16
To: UKMicrowaves@groups.io
Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Ecoflex 15?

 

I have plenty in my scrap bin after it went high loss from before I found out you should never bend it more than once....

.

Neil G4DBN

 

Ah, you have me worried now Neil. I use a telescopic push-up mast with either the 23, 13, 9 or 3Cm antenna on, occasionally more than one but the 10Ghz is 2Mtr down so any old bit of string is ok. 

 

I have a couple of lengths, about 10ft, for the 23, 13 or 9 feeds so there is some flexing needed though of course, the cable hangs vertically (tied to the mast as I erect it) with just the one bend at the bottom to go into the sets. 

 

Maybe the flexibility of the LMR400 is handy. The loss per 10ft )1500Mhz) would seem to be 0.51db for LMR400, 0.33db for LMR600 and 0.41db for eco15.

 

LMR600 might be a better choice. 

 

Ben.

 

militaryoperator <Military1944@...>
 


The ECO-15 I have seen, (to a fixed antenna, no rotator) was like concrete filled hose pipe to handle.
I am pleasantly happy with Hyperflex 10 as a good all round compromise around rotators.  Not used hyperflex 13.
 
Colin de G8LBS.
 


Thanks Colin, and others for tips. 

Anyway, it will have to wait a bit, just received WW2 Japanese spy Set so my attention diverted for a while, hi. 

cheers, Ben G4BXD

--------------------------------------
Curator, Owner and Display coordinator
Military Wireless Museum
Kidderminster, UK.

This message was meant for the recipient
Any likeness to persons living or dead is odd
---------------------------------------

Dave - G4RQI
 

Hello Ben,

 

LMR600 is nice for a straight run BUT not very flexible... I had 10m of LMR600 until the dog took a dislike to it and now I have 8m 😊

 

David – G4RQI

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: militaryoperator via groups.io
Sent: 17 February 2021 20:02
To: UKMicrowaves@groups.io
Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Ecoflex 15?

 

Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Ecoflex 15?

DX shop and Nevada both advertise it 
--
Steve G4HTZ 

 

 

Thanks Steve. Looking at specs just it seems LMR600 is better than the LMR400 and Eco15, just by a pip. 

 

ben.

 

Neil Smith G4DBN
 

I have a 25 m run of Ecoflex 15 plus that has never been moved and it is as good now as when it was installed.  However, the runs that I had on the pump-up, which were coiled carefully into a 1m diameter heap and raised/lowered once a day on average, started to get suck-outs and lossiness at 23cm and 13cm after six months. Might have happened sooner, but I noticed things were getting slightly worse over time. Same with some patch leads that Tony brought round.  Some that were 2m long had 3dB loss at 13cm and 1.5dB at 23cm, and the loss changed as you moved the cables. After slicing off the insulation, we found that the copper foil was split into sections a couple of inches long, with only the scanty outer braid carrying the current between the sections. It is a bit of a swine to terminate reliably as well. Flexy heliax is hugely more practical.

Neil G4DBN

Pete - GM4BYF
 

When Ecoflex is bent, the inner moves compared with the outer and can withdraw from the inner connector completely.

Had that happen twice, so always soldered now.

73
Pete GM4BYF
On 17/02/21 22:32, Reg Woolley via groups.io wrote:

Why not non solder? Crimp and or non solder have been the industry standard for years . Ldf 4 50 for example have been non solder for at least 20 years. Correctly fitted they are perfectly fine.

Reg G8vHI




Sent from my Galaxy


-------- Original message --------
From: "Pete - GM4BYF via groups.io" <gm4byf@...>
Date: 17/02/2021 21:40 (GMT+00:00)
Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Ecoflex 15?

If Using Eco 15 The plugs must be the solder on type. I have used Times Microwave in preference.

73
Pete GM4BYF
On 17/02/21 21:08, Neil Smith G4DBN wrote:

I have plenty in my scrap bin after it went high loss from before I found out you should never bend it more than once....

DX Shop is always a good source of pre-terminated cables, done with a proper machine too.

Neil G4DBN

On 17/02/2021 19:51, militaryoperator via groups.io wrote:
Where's the best place to get a short length of Eco15, say 10ft, 3 to 4Mtrs?

I want to replace the LMR400 feeder I'm using now.

ebay has a German supplier, any in UK?

Ben.
_


--
vry 73
Pete GM4BYF

--
vry 73
Pete GM4BYF

Robin Szemeti - G1YFG
 

I tend to use flexible heliax, FSJ4-50B is my tool of choice.


On Wed, 17 Feb 2021 at 23:04, Neil Smith G4DBN <neil@...> wrote:
I have a 25 m run of Ecoflex 15 plus that has never been moved and it is
as good now as when it was installed.  However, the runs that I had on
the pump-up, which were coiled carefully into a 1m diameter heap and
raised/lowered once a day on average, started to get suck-outs and
lossiness at 23cm and 13cm after six months. Might have happened sooner,
but I noticed things were getting slightly worse over time. Same with
some patch leads that Tony brought round.  Some that were 2m long had
3dB loss at 13cm and 1.5dB at 23cm, and the loss changed as you moved
the cables. After slicing off the insulation, we found that the copper
foil was split into sections a couple of inches long, with only the
scanty outer braid carrying the current between the sections. It is a
bit of a swine to terminate reliably as well. Flexy heliax is hugely
more practical.

Neil G4DBN








--
Robin Szemeti - G1YFG

Reg Woolley
 

As others have stated bend eco flex at your peril.  It won't last long

De Reg g8vhi
Ex RAF Aerial Rigger 



Sent from my Galaxy


-------- Original message --------
From: "Pete - GM4BYF via groups.io" <gm4byf@...>
Date: 17/02/2021 23:59 (GMT+00:00)
To: UKMicrowaves@groups.io
Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Ecoflex 15?

When Ecoflex is bent, the inner moves compared with the outer and can withdraw from the inner connector completely.

Had that happen twice, so always soldered now.

73
Pete GM4BYF
On 17/02/21 22:32, Reg Woolley via groups.io wrote:
Why not non solder? Crimp and or non solder have been the industry standard for years . Ldf 4 50 for example have been non solder for at least 20 years. Correctly fitted they are perfectly fine.

Reg G8vHI




Sent from my Galaxy


-------- Original message --------
From: "Pete - GM4BYF via groups.io" <gm4byf@...>
Date: 17/02/2021 21:40 (GMT+00:00)
Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Ecoflex 15?

If Using Eco 15 The plugs must be the solder on type. I have used Times Microwave in preference.

73
Pete GM4BYF
On 17/02/21 21:08, Neil Smith G4DBN wrote:

I have plenty in my scrap bin after it went high loss from before I found out you should never bend it more than once....

DX Shop is always a good source of pre-terminated cables, done with a proper machine too.

Neil G4DBN

On 17/02/2021 19:51, militaryoperator via groups.io wrote:
Where's the best place to get a short length of Eco15, say 10ft, 3 to 4Mtrs?

I want to replace the LMR400 feeder I'm using now.

ebay has a German supplier, any in UK?

Ben.
_


--
vry 73
Pete GM4BYF

--
vry 73
Pete GM4BYF

Colin Ranson
 

When I operated up to a max of 70cm I swore blind by RG214 around loops and downleads.  Lossy by todays standards now.

 

De G8LBS.

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: Reg Woolley via groups.io
Sent: 18 February 2021 00:06
To: UKMicrowaves@groups.io
Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Ecoflex 15?

 

As others have stated bend eco flex at your peril.  It won't last long

 

De Reg g8vhi

Ex RAF Aerial Rigger 

 

 

 

Sent from my Galaxy

 

 

-------- Original message --------

From: "Pete - GM4BYF via groups.io" <gm4byf@...>

Date: 17/02/2021 23:59 (GMT+00:00)

To: UKMicrowaves@groups.io

Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Ecoflex 15?

 

When Ecoflex is bent, the inner moves compared with the outer and can withdraw from the inner connector completely.

Had that happen twice, so always soldered now.

73
Pete GM4BYF

On 17/02/21 22:32, Reg Woolley via groups.io wrote:

Why not non solder? Crimp and or non solder have been the industry standard for years . Ldf 4 50 for example have been non solder for at least 20 years. Correctly fitted they are perfectly fine.

 

Reg G8vHI

 

 

 

 

Sent from my Galaxy

 

 

-------- Original message --------

From: "Pete - GM4BYF via groups.io" <gm4byf@...>

Date: 17/02/2021 21:40 (GMT+00:00)

Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Ecoflex 15?

 

If Using Eco 15 The plugs must be the solder on type. I have used Times Microwave in preference.

73
Pete GM4BYF

On 17/02/21 21:08, Neil Smith G4DBN wrote:

I have plenty in my scrap bin after it went high loss from before I found out you should never bend it more than once....

DX Shop is always a good source of pre-terminated cables, done with a proper machine too.

Neil G4DBN

On 17/02/2021 19:51, militaryoperator via groups.io wrote:

Where's the best place to get a short length of Eco15, say 10ft, 3 to 4Mtrs?

I want to replace the LMR400 feeder I'm using now.


ebay has a German supplier, any in UK?

 

Ben.

_

 


--
vry 73
Pete GM4BYF


--
vry 73
Pete GM4BYF

 

Stephen Tompsett
 

Remember that the minimum bend radius in the datasheet is usually for one or a very limited number of bends.

All of the foil and braid construction feeders need to be handled gently, and it is essential to avoid any twisting of the feeder. Messi & Paoloni recommend a minimum of 20x cable OD for repeated bends https://messi.it/ec/pagina.asp?pag=24&l=EN&s=centrale&p=1&mv=166&ml=EN


On 18/02/2021 00:06, Reg Woolley via groups.io wrote:
As others have stated bend eco flex at your peril.  It won't last long

De Reg g8vhi
Ex RAF Aerial Rigger 



Sent from my Galaxy


-------- Original message --------
From: "Pete - GM4BYF via groups.io" <gm4byf@...>
Date: 17/02/2021 23:59 (GMT+00:00)
Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Ecoflex 15?

When Ecoflex is bent, the inner moves compared with the outer and can withdraw from the inner connector completely.

Had that happen twice, so always soldered now.

73
Pete GM4BYF
On 17/02/21 22:32, Reg Woolley via groups.io wrote:
Why not non solder? Crimp and or non solder have been the industry standard for years . Ldf 4 50 for example have been non solder for at least 20 years. Correctly fitted they are perfectly fine.

Reg G8vHI




Sent from my Galaxy


-------- Original message --------
From: "Pete - GM4BYF via groups.io" <gm4byf@...>
Date: 17/02/2021 21:40 (GMT+00:00)
Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Ecoflex 15?

If Using Eco 15 The plugs must be the solder on type. I have used Times Microwave in preference.

73
Pete GM4BYF
On 17/02/21 21:08, Neil Smith G4DBN wrote:

I have plenty in my scrap bin after it went high loss from before I found out you should never bend it more than once....

DX Shop is always a good source of pre-terminated cables, done with a proper machine too.

Neil G4DBN

On 17/02/2021 19:51, militaryoperator via groups.io wrote:
Where's the best place to get a short length of Eco15, say 10ft, 3 to 4Mtrs?

I want to replace the LMR400 feeder I'm using now.

ebay has a German supplier, any in UK?

Ben.
_


--
vry 73
Pete GM4BYF

--
vry 73
Pete GM4BYF 
-- 
Stephen Tompsett (G8LYB)
Tel: 01788 578940
Mob: 07956 855816

DF6NA Rainer
 

Hi,

I'm using ECOFLEX15 more than 10 years now on 6 & 9 cm and never had a problem.
Using a BIG-Lift 10m hydraulic tower with a big loop on the roof.

73, Rainer



Am 18.02.2021 um 01:06 schrieb Reg Woolley via groups.io:

As others have stated bend eco flex at your peril.  It won't last long

De Reg g8vhi
Ex RAF Aerial Rigger 



Sent from my Galaxy


-------- Original message --------
From: "Pete - GM4BYF via groups.io" <gm4byf@...>
Date: 17/02/2021 23:59 (GMT+00:00)
Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Ecoflex 15?

When Ecoflex is bent, the inner moves compared with the outer and can withdraw from the inner connector completely.

Had that happen twice, so always soldered now.

73
Pete GM4BYF
On 17/02/21 22:32, Reg Woolley via groups.io wrote:
Why not non solder? Crimp and or non solder have been the industry standard for years . Ldf 4 50 for example have been non solder for at least 20 years. Correctly fitted they are perfectly fine.

Reg G8vHI




Sent from my Galaxy


-------- Original message --------
From: "Pete - GM4BYF via groups.io" <gm4byf@...>
Date: 17/02/2021 21:40 (GMT+00:00)
Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Ecoflex 15?

If Using Eco 15 The plugs must be the solder on type. I have used Times Microwave in preference.

73
Pete GM4BYF
On 17/02/21 21:08, Neil Smith G4DBN wrote:

I have plenty in my scrap bin after it went high loss from before I found out you should never bend it more than once....

DX Shop is always a good source of pre-terminated cables, done with a proper machine too.

Neil G4DBN

On 17/02/2021 19:51, militaryoperator via groups.io wrote:
Where's the best place to get a short length of Eco15, say 10ft, 3 to 4Mtrs?

I want to replace the LMR400 feeder I'm using now.

ebay has a German supplier, any in UK?

Ben.
_


--
vry 73
Pete GM4BYF

--
vry 73
Pete GM4BYF

alwyn.seeds1
 

Dear All,

I have not yet measured a length of Ecoflex 15 that met its specified loss, even when new. I have measured very bad suck-outs at frequencies above 2GHz on some samples.

Ecoflex 10 when new, has generally been close to its specified loss.

A difference between cables of this sort (Ecoflex, M&P….) and the Times Microwave LMR Ultraflex series is the low braid coverage. As the foil cracks, radiation losses increase dramatically.

My measurements on Times Microwave LMR 400 Ultraflex show losses close to spec. even on samples that have been flexed for several years. 

Note that I specify “Times Microwave LMR 400 Ultraflex”; there are many fakes, “LMR 400 type” etc etc which I would not vouch for.

Regards,

Alwyn G8DOH 


_____________________________________________________

Alwyn Seeds, Director
SynOptika Ltd.,
114 Beaufort Street,
London,
SW3 6BU,
England.


SynOptika Ltd., Registered in England and Wales: No. 04606737
Registered Office: 114 Beaufort Street, London, SW3 6BU, United Kingdom.
_____________________________________________________

Stuart M1GSM
 

As Alwyn said, Stick to the quality stuff.

LMR600 is also available in ultraflex.

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