Amateur radio
50ft RG8X Coaxial Cable — 50Ω PL259 Male-to-Male Low-Loss RF Lead
Product description
What’s included: one 50-foot RG8X coaxial cable terminated with molded UHF PL259 male-to-male connectors on each end.
Conductor and shielding: This cable uses a thick pure copper inner conductor (commonly specified around 17 AWG for RG8X types) and a double-layer shield to reduce signal leakage, noise and interference compared with thinner 50Ω cables.
Connectors and contacts: The UHF PL259 plugs are nickel-plated brass with gold-plated center pins for improved conductivity and corrosion resistance. Connectors are molded to the jacket for a secure factory finish and support frequencies into the low hundreds of MHz.
Jacket and durability: The outer sheath is a flexible PVC jacket that resists moisture and makes the cable suitable for both indoor routing and outdoor runs. It’s easy to handle, bends without excessive kinking and can be used in vehicular installs like Jeep/CB setups or fixed base antennas.
Applications: Designed for 50Ω RF systems — CB and ham radios, antenna analyzers, tuners, SWR meters, dummy loads and transceivers. It’s a step up from typical RG58-type leads thanks to the heavier copper core and dual shielding, making it a good choice for longer runs or higher-power hobbyist applications.
Pros
- Low-loss 50Ω performance with thick copper center
- Double shielding and molded PL259s reduce interference
- Flexible PVC jacket suitable for indoor/outdoor use
Cons
- Factory connectors are basic; many users re-terminate
- PVC jacket may age under prolonged intense sun exposure
- Not intended for extreme commercial high-power applications
VerdictSolid, budget-friendly RG8X cable that delivers low-loss 50Ω performance for CB, ham and test gear. Durable shielding and gold-plated center pins give reliable connections; some users choose to re-terminate connectors for long-term heavy-duty installs.
Reader reviews
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TheBronze 5/5
Performs well for a temporary EFHW
Needed 50ft for a temporary EFHW and bought this expecting 'good enough.' Hooked it up to a ground rod and it performed like pricier cable. Not sure the jacket will last decades in intense sun, but for temporary or semi-permanent use it’s a great value.
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Thomas M Werts 5/5
Lightweight spare for emergency kit
Light and easy to pack. I keep it in my emergency bag—handy to have before you need it in storm-prone areas.
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Anthony Wood 5/5
Exactly as expected
Matches the description and functions perfectly for my setup. No complaints.
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Jeff 5/5
Ideal length for flexible station layout
The 50ft length lets me move equipment around my station without disconnecting. I haven't noticed any signal loss.
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Gadget 4/5
Good for GMRS/CB, not heavy-duty
Works as advertised and is easy to use. Keep in mind it isn’t a heavy-duty, ultra-high-power commercial cable.
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Lynn J. Magnuson 5/5
Connects radio to antenna with little loss
Did exactly what I needed—connected my radio to the antenna and didn’t notice significant signal loss compared to other brands I’ve used.
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John 5/5
Excellent clarity and robust connectors
Using it on a CB setup and the audio is clear and steady across the 50ft run. Low-loss design shows. PL259s screw on securely, and the cable is flexible enough to route without kinking. Performance rivals cables costing much more.
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Leonardo Peña Bujanos 5/5
Buen cable
Muy buen cable.
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Tim 5/5
Durable outdoors; re-terminate connectors if needed
Used on 20m and 40m dipoles with many contacts across the US and DX. Has survived several years outdoors and the jacket stayed supple. I did cut off and re-terminate the factory PL259s, as others suggested; still going strong.
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Vmac011 4/5
Great value; check center pin finish
Excellent value overall. Lightly sand the PL259 center pin if there are solder burrs to ensure optimal contact.
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HistoryFan 5/5
Solid build for base station use
Bought the 50ft for a base station and homemade antenna. Mine was well constructed with decent soldering. SWR was good and I made a contact to Europe right away from Canada.
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