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Originally Posted by alkats
Any opinion would be greatly appreciated --
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Although you are correct that TNC and BNC are pretty much the same, the real difference is their fixator. The BNC is spring loaded using a bayonet/cam lock, that's held under compression typically with a wave washer or elastomer . Which opens the door to several problems, vibration and moisture/humidity. The TNCs are better suited in most apps when properly torqued. Both have pretty much the same usable freq range of up through 9ghz+ in a static application. However the nickel plating isn't best suited for freqs above 8ghz, so most companies will usually offer a silver plated version. Depending on manufacturer the insertion losses for both are .2 - .35db
The problem with RG-58 Mil17/28 isn't that it can't be used or that it isn't capable of handling 2.4ghz effectively. It's the fact that there are so many unqualified companies producing crap variations. If you can purchased from a reputable source in compliance to Mil spec, you shouldn't have any more problems with it verses any other cable in it's size range. A Mil spec RG58 cable will have losses in the <1db / meter, typ .75 - .85db @ 2.4ghz.
Even Times Microware doesn't list their RG-58 equivalent LMR-195 as being M17/28 qualified, they actually list a different product to meet Mil Specs. Which probably explains why their LMR-195 has better specs than RG58, because they are most likely over sizing something to get an edge. We used to call this "Specmanship".
You might want to record your signal readings as reported by NS in dbm without the antenna and then record them again with the antenna attached. The difference between the two readings should give you a clue as to your gain.