[A/S] Flat "Coax" Cable (was: Setting up a Sat. Dish

[Jim Redelfs <jim.redelfs@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> > What I did was buy a flat co-ax piece, about 8" long
> > and I ran it though the window.

> <Shudder>...

I'll bet!   <grin>

> There is no way that such a flat jumper cable exhibits a
> 75-ohm characteristic impedance.

Agreed.

> This is like parking your pickup truck tire on top of your
> water hose and expecting it to work right.

That's a good analogy.

75-ohm video technology is going to be with us for a long, LONG time.  A
"proper" coax connection built into (through) the sidewall of a fulltimer's
rig should be a given by now.

Any "cable wo/man" worth their salt could install a permanent - and proper -
coax cable connection, even in an Airstream.  I'll bet I could do it in less
than an hour - and it would look great, last forever and I expect the parts
would probably cost less than $20-30US.  (Ouch! I broke my arm! <g>)

> <Exit RF engineer mode.)

I am not an engineer, but I've done enough coax work and have enough telecom
and electrical experience to know how degrading such a compromise can be.
Especially if one is viewing ANALOG TV through such a bottleneck, they would
likely notice a MARKED quality improvement with a "proper", through-the-wall
coax connection.

               :)
JR