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I hope that I got the letters and numbers correct. I am wondering about the performance AND weatherproof comparisons between mini-8 cable and stiff RG-8 cable. It's for a cb base station installation.

I'm installing a base cb antenna on the roof of my house, and just need enough length to get it to my cb in the basement. The mini-8 cable just seems really weak and flimsy for this application, but I've also had RG-8 cable cut nearly in half by a simple windstorm (up against the side of a gutter). So any advice would be appreciated.

rg-8x is 1/4'' and rg-8u is 1/2'', big difference.

I use the rg-8u on my base and you can beat a mule to death with it and still talk dx so you must be thinking of rg58u which is nearly the same size as 8x with a lower power handling capability.

Get some rg-8u or 213 and that'll last for many years.

personally i'd avoid both like the plague, neither is proper US mil spec cable, i doubt rg8/x was ever mil spec and rg8/u was replaced by rg213/u years ago as the military standard (which means if its real mil-c-17 spec rg8/u its donkeys years past its shelf life), i'd also avoid any cable that says the word type after its designation, which is another clue to inferior quality.

if it ain't good enough for uncle sam it ain't getting anywhere near any of my antennas. fuck that for a game of soldiers.

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"IT WON'T BE EASIER TO SPREAD YOUR VERSION OF HOW SH*T TICKS"
BOB85-2010

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DAMN U MAD LOL

i didnt know y'all had a Uncle Sam in the UK .....????

We don't, but doesn't mean i don't know where to find quality. Uk equivalent Uniradio URM cables are just as good as uncle sam's RG spec. But these days it pays to have a far wider outlook than within your own countries borders.

the way i see it is simple, if it's good enough for the most advanced military regime in the world ( albeit their a tad gung ho and more of a danger to their allies than enemies, but we try not to hold it against them) then its just about good enough for my ass to dx on. As the transmission line is possibly THE most important part of your station, it's not an area i choose to skimp on Booty.

__________________
"IT WON'T BE EASIER TO SPREAD YOUR VERSION OF HOW SH*T TICKS"
BOB85-2010

Considering the use it'd be put to, RG-8 (or RG-213) should do just fine. Won't be the absolute most bestest thing in the world, but the differences are not going to be that noticeable (if at all) at HF. If it's installed correctly, it won't be beat to death by the weather. Barring any nicks or cuts in the outer insulation, and if the 'ends'/connectors are sealed, there just aren't many coax cables that will not be weather resistant (weather -proof- costs more but is available). There really is such a thing as being 'practical'. If you really, really want the absolute mostest bestest 'bullet proof' coax cable around get ready for a very large bill! Unrealistic expectations will haunt you.
- 'Doc

George I don't necessarily base all my decisions on things that are military spec.

I base my choices on personal experience and research on the product in question and the rg-8 has been around for decades and used in base and mobile installations for as many years so that's where I base my suggestions to Steve H. on.

Yes I use rg-8 on my lw-150 vertical that is a 41' run from the antenna to the radio and in that length the is no appreciable losses and I use a better version of mini-8 which has a foil shield over the braided shield to my g5rv and both serve me well and actually exceed my needs.

Steve H. stated that his antenna on the roof so there is no need for a special coax that is rated for underground use so his run will be short enough for the rg-8 to be efficient in power loss saving him some money to be used for other stuff like a good swr/power meter or maybe a better radio or antenna and he can update his feed line later if need .