The Basic lessons · Feedlines and antenna systems · B-006-003

Choosing and Protecting Your Feedline

Learn why coaxial cable is the standard choice for most amateur stations and how to select the right connectors for your equipment. This lesson explains how to protect your feedline from weather, physical damage, and signal loss.

This lesson is part of SignalPrep Pro. The subsection's 11 exam questions are free to practise: practise B-006-003.

What this subsection asks

• A transmission line must be supported for several metres by attaching it to a metal fence. What type of transmission line will NOT be adversely affected by proximity to the fence?
• A common-mode current choke can be made by winding coaxial cable on a ferrite toroid. Why is cable with solid dielectric preferred over foam dielectric?
• Why do most amateur radio antenna systems use coaxial cable, rather than other types of transmission line?
• What type of connector is commonly installed on RG-213 coaxial cable for connection to an HF transceiver?
• What type of connector usually joins a modern hand-held transceiver to its antenna?
• Which popular RF connector is designed to be moisture resistant?
• What type of RF connector is commonly used for low-power transceivers and test instruments?
• Why should you regularly clean and tighten all antenna connectors?
• What type of coaxial outer conductor offers the best shielding?
• If your location is frequently affected by icing conditions, which type of transmission line would be the most suitable?
• What is the primary advantage of choosing a coaxial cable with a foam dielectric instead of a solid dielectric?