POTA COAX CHEAT SHEET “The Hose Between Your Radio and the Antenna”
- What Is Coax? (Super Simple)
- Radio makes the signal
- Antenna sends it into the air
- Coax connects the two
👉 Coax doesn’t create a signal — it just tries not to lose it
The Coax = Hose Rule
- Shorter hose = less leak
- Thicker hose = less leak
- Any hose still works
The 3 Rules of POTA Coax Rule #1: Shorter Is Better
- 10 ft > 25 ft > 50 ft
- Don’t carry extra length “just in case”
Rule #2: Condition Beats Brand
- Dry inside
- No cracks
- Good connectors
- No mystery eBay specials
Rule #3: Reliability > Perfection
- A working cable beats “the best cable” left at home
🧵 Common Coax Types (Plain English)
Coax Type: What It Means for POTA
- RG-58 Skinny, light, works fine for short runs
- RG-8X POTA sweet spot — flexible & low loss
- LMR-240 Nice upgrade, still portable
- LMR-400 Heavy, stiff, usually overkill for HF POTA
Rule of thumb:
- If your coax weighs more than your radio… rethink it.
Does Better Coax Make You Louder?
- HF + short runs (most POTA):
- Difference is usually small
- VHF/UHF or long runs:
- Better coax helps more
Coax preserves signal — it does NOT magically boost it
- ❌ POTA Coax Myths (Busted)
- ❌ “You need premium coax to activate”
- ➡️ False — people activate with wire antennas and QRP daily
- ❌ “LMR-400 will fix my signal”
- ➡️ False — antenna problems stay antenna problems
- ❌ “Cheap coax is useless”
- ➡️ False — damaged coax is useless
🎯 Smart POTA Coax Recommendation
For most activators:
- 25 ft RG-8X
- Flexible
- Known-good connectors
Easy to pack
🛠️ Field Tips That Matter More Than Coax Brand
- Keep connectors off wet ground
- Don’t coil tight loops
- Strain-relieve at the radio
- Pack one known-good spare
🧠 Final Brew & Activate Wisdom
- A great antenna with average coax beats
- average antenna with fancy coax — every time.