[Scanner] Which Coax? Which mast?

[Phil Atchley]

Hi.
A friend is sending me a new RadioShack scanner antenna model 20-042,
apparently the same as the "Scantenna" to use with my Yaesu VR-5000
receiver. The antenna covers 30-1300MHz (it's about 7 feet tall).

Any-who....  He is sending me about 65 feet of new RG-59 Coax to use with it
(the coax type specified for that model with F connectors).  I anticipate
receiving this antenna by the weekend and putting it up this weekend
(weather permitting).  A couple quick questions.

1.  Coax?  He's sending the RG-59, BUT I work part time at a TV shop doing
stereo repairs.  I'm sure I can get quality (hopefully) RG-6 TV coax from
the shop.  Is it that much better, particularly at a GHz or so than the
RG-59?  I believe the impedance is the same.

2.  Mounting location.  I have two (actually have 4 here) different masts
holding present antennas that I can put this sucker on. The one holding the
high end of the sloper is roughly 38 feet or so above ground (perhaps 26
feet above my sheetmetal roof) at it's top and can probably go about another
5 feet up, BUT would require at least 50 feet of coax to reach it.  The top
of the closer mast is only about 15 feet MAXIMUM above the roof but would
only require a 20-25 foot run of coax!!   IS THE EXTRA 11-16 FEET OF HEIGHT
WORTH DOUBLING THE COAX LENGTH OVER??

73 de Phil  KO6BB


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