Cabling to FM Antenna

If you use an antenna-mounted preamp the wire down to the tuner is not of great importance.

Living in a fringe area, I found shielded 300 ohm twinlead to be the best (without using a preamp). I don't know if anyone sells shielded 300 ohm twinlead any more.

If you want to experiment with Eldartford's idea, here is a review. Appears Radio Shack may still be a source for this.

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1750

As Albert has said Radio Shack is a great source in that application. I have a 100ft dedicated 75 ohm to a external yagi w/ no rotor and can pull in stations 75 to 100 miles away with a Magnum Dynalab Etude. As for conduit if were to use a long radius 90 you should have no problem, if you can get a fishtape through it should pose no problem. What size conduit 1/2"? RG-6 is generic use of exterier and direct burial RG-6QX gives you higher sheilding levels from appliances and computers. David

Albertporter...I guess you missed the SHIELDED part of my 300 ohm twinlead suggestion. When I installed a big FM antenna decades ago 75 ohm coax was not used: 300 ohm twinlead was what everyone used. However, while I live in a fringe area I am close to a busy road, and automobile ignition noise was a problem. This was solved by the shielded twinlead which Radio Shack then sold. This stuff is almost round (not flat like usual twinlead) and is filled with some sort of foam. The shield is a conductive film. The shield is left "floating" at both ends (not connected to ground). I thought this was surprising, but a friend who is a ham says that this is often the case. Anyway, the darned stuff works great.

Thanks all! Cylinderking and Eldartford - I am probably stuck going 75 ohm since the antenna mounted part of the amp is 75 ohm in and out. The conduit is a 1", I think (probably the OD measure) and has several tight 90 degree turns with removable (2 screw) caps at each bend, so yes, I can fish through. Question is am I damaging the coax with these sharp bends?

Broimp...Winegard makes a signal preamp with 300 ohms in and 75 ohms out. This is probably the overall best you can do.

Unsure on why the writer wants to use conduit. The "...removable (2 screw) caps at each bend..." sound like "house ells." RG-6 through these might be a close call, in terms of bending radius. Pick a cable, get the spec sheet and find the Min Bending Radius. Or skip the conduit and save money and aggravation.

There's not a Dish/Direct TV sat dish install in my neighborhood - and I'd wager anywhere in the US - that uses conduit for antenna lead in. For fastening, use a coax cable clamp, sized for cable model. It's got a nail on one side.

IMHO, based on decades ago experience, I'm not a fan of antenna preamps. More elements and maybe more elevation may be a better - though less elegant - approach.