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Messi & Paoloni ULTRAFLEX 10/C Sahara
Exceptionally flexible premium coax with far lower loss than conventional RG213/U and RG-8X, plus a white UV-resistant jacket designed for hot, exposed and high-power installations.
Choose your cable length and connector combination and let us build the lead for you.
Far lower loss than RG213. Dramatically lower loss than RG-8X.
ULTRAFLEX 10/C Sahara combines outstanding RF performance with the flexibility of a stranded centre conductor and a white jacket designed to help control solar heating.
Messi & Paoloni ULTRAFLEX 10/C Sahara is a premium 10.3mm 50 ohm coaxial cable designed for stations where low loss, flexibility, high power handling and dependable performance matter.
It is a substantial performance upgrade from traditional RG213/U. Both cables are around the same overall diameter, but ULTRAFLEX 10/C Sahara uses a modern physically foamed dielectric, full copper foil screen and high-performance reactive braid to deliver considerably lower attenuation.
Compared with RG-8 Mini / RG-8X, the difference is even greater. RG-8X may be convenient to handle, but its higher losses become increasingly noticeable as frequency and cable length rise. ULTRAFLEX 10/C Sahara retains far more of your transmitted power and received signal.
A major RF performance improvement over conventional RG213/U while retaining a familiar 10mm-class cable size.
Dramatically lower attenuation than typical RG-8X, particularly on VHF, UHF and longer feed-line runs.
UV-resistant white PVC helps reduce solar heating compared with a conventional black cable exposed to direct sunlight.
High-pressure physically foamed polyethylene dielectric provides excellent RF efficiency across HF, VHF and UHF.
See the Difference Against RG213 and RG-8X
The advantage becomes particularly clear when the attenuation figures are compared directly. Lower dB figures mean less of your signal is being lost as heat in the feed line.
RG213/U and RG-8X figures are representative values and may vary between manufacturers and individual cable constructions.
If you are currently using RG213, ULTRAFLEX 10/C Sahara can significantly reduce feed-line loss without increasing the overall cable diameter.
If you are replacing RG-8X, the improvement is even more substantial, particularly on 6m, 2m and 70cm where coaxial cable loss becomes increasingly important.
Why the Sahara White Jacket Matters
The white jacket is not simply a cosmetic alternative. M&P developed the Sahara range because coaxial cable attenuation changes as temperature rises.
A black cable lying in direct sunlight can reach a substantially higher temperature than the surrounding air. Even when the operator and radio equipment are comfortably in the shade, the feed line may be sitting in full sun for hours.
ULTRAFLEX 10/C Sahara uses a UV-resistant white PVC jacket which absorbs less solar energy than a conventional black jacket. This helps reduce solar heating and can help the cable maintain more consistent RF performance in hot and exposed installations.
The white jacket is also useful where coax is routed along light-coloured walls, fascia boards, conservatories or other surfaces where black cable would be considerably more conspicuous.
Developed with High-Power Operation in Mind
High RF power generates additional heat in the feed line, making cable temperature particularly important during high-duty-cycle operation.
M&P reports laboratory testing using 1kW of continuous-carrier FT8 for several hours. During this testing, the operating temperature of the Sahara design reduced considerably and stabilised at more suitable levels.
This makes ULTRAFLEX 10/C Sahara particularly attractive for contest stations, digital modes and installations using linear amplifiers for sustained periods.
M&P specifies a maximum peak-power rating of 12,000W. Continuous power capability depends on operating frequency and cable temperature, so the detailed power-handling figures in the Product Information tab should be used when planning a high-power installation.
Exceptional Flexibility for a 10.3mm Cable
M&P describes ULTRAFLEX 10/C Sahara as its most flexible 10.3mm coaxial cable, making it particularly useful where a conventional heavy feed line would be awkward to route.
Instead of a solid centre conductor, it uses 7 x 1.0mm copper wires with an overall conductor diameter of approximately 2.9mm.
This construction gives the cable the flexibility needed for antenna rotators, tight cable routes and shack interconnections while retaining excellent low-loss performance.
The specified minimum bend radius is 80mm for repeated bending and only 40mm for a single bend or choke.
M&P Reactive Copper Braid
The outer conductor uses a 144-wire copper reactive braid with approximately 71% coverage, manufactured on a 24-spool braiding machine.
Compared with a conventional 16-spool process, this creates approximately 50% more crossover points. M&P describes the resulting braid as reacting to twisting and bending like a spring, helping provide both flexibility and excellent screening performance.
Beneath the braid is a 100% copper foil first screen with an applied polyethylene layer designed to prevent cracking during short-radius bends.
Excellent RF Screening
The copper foil and reactive braid combination provides a specified screening efficiency greater than 105dB between 100MHz and 2000MHz. This helps minimise unwanted signal ingress and radiation from the feed line.
Where ULTRAFLEX 10/C Sahara Works Best
Very low attenuation helps preserve signal over substantial distances between the shack and antenna.
Excellent power handling makes it well suited to stations using linear amplifiers and demanding operating modes.
Particularly useful where sustained high-duty-cycle operation places additional thermal stress on the feed line.
Excellent flexibility for a 10.3mm coax makes it a strong choice for beam antennas and rotator loops.
White jacket helps reduce solar heating when the feed line is exposed to strong direct sunlight.
An excellent upgrade where reducing feed-line loss is a priority without sacrificing flexibility.
M&P Cable Length Guidance
M&P provides the following transmitting guidance for ULTRAFLEX 10/C Sahara. These figures indicate cable lengths at which M&P rates the performance as Excellent or Good and are not absolute operating limits.
Cable Construction
- 7 x 1.0mm stranded copper inner conductor
- 2.9mm overall inner conductor diameter
- Triple-layer high-pressure physically foamed polyethylene dielectric
- 100% copper foil first screen with applied PE layer
- 71% coverage reactive copper braid
- 144 copper braid wires manufactured using 24 spools
- UV-resistant white PVC outer jacket
- 10.3mm overall cable diameter
- 87% velocity factor
- Screening efficiency greater than 105dB from 100 to 2000MHz
- Maximum peak power 12,000W
ULTRAFLEX 10/C Sahara uses a flexible white PVC outer jacket and is not intended for direct burial.
ULTRAFLEX 10/C Sahara Technical Specifications
General
Construction
Minimum Bend Radius
80mm for up to 15 bends
40mm
Structural Return Loss
Attenuation at 20°C
Continuous Power Handling at 40°C
Shipping:
We have several shipping options for our products, including next-day and Saturday/Sunday delivery for certain items. Please see these options at checkout.
Returns:
If you have any equipment that needs to be returned to Martin Lynch & Sons, please fill out the form below:
Upon receipt of goods you have 14 days to return goods however the goods must be returned in original packaging and care must have been taken with the goods you wish to return. Under distance selling regulations you are not entitled to any refund on carriage charges or modification charges made at your request. Large items cannot be returned if they have been assembled, unless faulty.
Warranty Terms and Conditions
Outside of the 14 faulty return period, returned items cannot be accepted, unless covered by manufacturer's warranty. We will repair as much as possible on site however in exceptional circumstances products may have to be returned to the manufacturer of distributor.
For repairs/replacements under manufacturer’s warranty for any item please download a ML&S return form from the link above and return to ML&S with the faulty product.
International Warranty information
Warranty service for items we sell is available in the U.K. only, unless otherwise noted. It is your responsibility to pay freight for returned items to the U.K. and back to you for desired warranty coverage. All of our NEW products come with a minimum 12 month warranty, (Yaesu & Icom 24 months), with up to 90 days on second-hand equipment. Items returned for service must state "returned goods for repair" on the return air waybill or U.K. import customs duties apply and will be added to your invoice. For more info about returning items please contact our customer help desk, [email protected]