RG-8U wire

[chure]

I just moved into a house in Brookfield (124th & Burliegh) and have an existing element antenna on the roof.  The wire coming from the antenna is RG-8U, which is like 3/4 in. in diameter.  Obviously, this is not going to fit into my Sat. reciever.  I haven't been to Radio Shack yet, i'll be heading there tonight, but does anyone know if there is a reducer to normal R6 coaxial?  If necessary, this spring I could get up on the roof and replace the RG-8 with the correct wire, but in the mean time, any suggestions?  If there is not reducer available, any suggestions on a set top indoor antenna?

[Gregg Lengling]

You need to replace that cable as it's no the proper impedance.  RG8 is 50 ohms and sat and tv requires 75 ohm.  Just use the old coax to pull new RG6 thru.

[Nels Harvey]

I haven't been to Radio Shack yet, i'll be heading there tonight, but does anyone know if there is a reducer to normal R6 coaxial?  

Like Gregg says, there will be an impedence mismatch, but using an outdoor antenna will bring stronger and more stable signal into your TV than an indoor antenna.

 You don't say what type of connector you have on the RG-8 cable.  There are various adaptors that can, and can't be found at Radio Shack.  One possibility is to connect a short piece of RG-6 cable to your existing RG-8, with a similar connector and a barrel connector, then put a type F connector on the other end of the RG-6 to fit your receiver.

This is only a temporary fix until you can change out the cable, eliminate the excess connectors (lossy),  and evaluate the antenna.  This certainly is not the time to climb on a roof.  I do wish you well.

Nels....

[tazman]

Follow Greggs recommendation and replace the cable and don't waste your time trying to adapt that cable.  RG8 like Gregg said is 50 ohm.  You need 75 ohm cable.  If it were RG11 that would be a different story.  They make barrel adapters for the SO239 connectors that are used with the bigger cable connectors to reduce them down to RG58 or 59.  By the way what in the world kind of TV antenna do you have that has a SO238 connector on it that requires use of the larger cable.  Seems to me that someone in the past had a Ham or CB radio setup and when that was removed decided to connect a TV antenna to the existing cable.

[Nels Harvey]

Follow Greggs recommendation and replace the cable and don't waste your time trying to adapt that cable.  RG8 like Gregg said is 50 ohm.  You need 75 ohm cable.  

There will be a mismatch that amounts to about a 4% loss.  That is providing the antenna is truly 75 Ohms.  I still think it's better to use that cable temporarily instead of trying to climb on the roof in winter, or struggle with rabbit ears!

The ideal thing to do would be to replace both the antenna and feedline when weather permits, but my suggestion to use the present cable until then is reasonable.

Nels....