Which cable to choose? LL400? LL400-FLEX? RG-213 ?

Posted by A.J. Farmer on

We offer 3 types of 3/8" diameter coax.  Which one to choose?  Here is a summary of the differences in these cables:

LL400
PE jacket - this is a hard jacket that is extremely durable and ok to direct bury
Solid center conductor - better RF performance, lower loss than stranded
Double shield - better interference rejection, stronger signal
Foam dieletric - aids in lower loss

LL400-FLEX
TPE jacket - this is a durable but soft jacket that is highly flexible even in cold temperatures - not ok to direct bury
Stranded center conductor - makes cable more flexible
Double shield - better interference rejection, stronger signal
Foam dieletric - aids in lower loss

RG-213/U
PVC jacket - this is a hard jacket that is more flexible than PE, extremely durable and ok to direct bury
Stranded center conductor - makes cable more flexible
Single shield - better interference rejection, stronger signal
PE solid dieletric - solid material

The cable you choose depends on your application.

Ham Radio and CB:
If you have a fixed antenna on a tower or fixed structure, LL400 is best. If you have a beam antenna on a rotor that will move, then you should use LL400-FLEX around the antenna.  You can do a single run of LL400-FLEX from the antenna to the radio, or a combination of LL400-FLEX around the antenna and a fixed run of LL400 down the tower to the radio. RG213/U is typically used for lower HF frequencies but it's also okay on VHF/UHF.  You will get lower loss from LL400 and LL400-FLEX on VHF/UHF vs RG-213/U.  RG-213/U will withstand higher voltages.  The higher you go in frequency, the more loss you will have in RG-213/U as compared to the LL series cables.

For shorter runs and portability, also consider LL240-FLEX.

CradlePoint, Mobile Broadband, RFID:
LL400 and LL400-FLEX should be used for mobile broadband and RFID.  Performance is similar for both cables. LL400-FLEX has higher flexibility for ease of installation in tight spaces.

For shorter runs and portability, also consider LL240-FLEX.


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