"HK" wrote in message
. ..


You're kidding about the difficulty in putting a connector on properly,
aren't you? I've done it at least a dozen times over the years the old
fashioned way (never used one of the quickie "crimp" connectors).

Harry, the connector is not the issue (assuming it's done in a decent
manner).
The proper loading of any RF antenna is a complex relationship of the
designed output impedance of the radio, the characteristic impedance of the
transmission line (cable) and the impedance of the antenna.

Higher powered RF transmitters have tuning boxes between the radio output
and the transmission line/antenna arrangement that effectively changes the
length with capacitors and inductors to optimize power transfer.

I agree that at 25 watts and a on typical boat installation it isn't going
to make much difference.
To an RF engineer, it will all look and operate like trash anyway.

Eisboch