[IRCA] Installing CATV "F" connectors the right way

[Rick Kunath <k9ao@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I ran across some links that graphically show the proper (and some 
improper) ways to install "F" connectors on to CATV-type coaxial cables.

Here is one link:

http://www.interstateelectronics.com/howto/coaxterm.html

The first two examples are correct.

The top example shows a good connector type and IMHO one of the only 
acceptable way to install an "F" connector on RG-6 quad-shield cable. 
This shows one of the connector you can use. These type connectors will 
be typical of what your cable company has migrated to over the last few 
years, and away from the crimp-type shown down lower on the page. The 
proper stripper and crimp tool is also pictured. There are still better 
connectors and tools that I describe later, though.

The older type shown in the middle example are OK, but not as 
weatherproof. They also tend to allow the shield to lose contact with 
the connector body over time, and there goes your shielding.

The first two examples are OK as far as the described cable installation 
goes. The last example for quad-shield RG-6 and a standard crimp-type 
"F" connector is *all wrong*. Do not install quad-shield coax this way 
or you'll defeat most of the benefit of the extra shielding you bought. 
This is the *wrong way* to install RG-6 quad-shield cable. The reason 
the guy had to cut off the shielding material as he describes, is that 
he has the wrong type "F" connector for the quad-shield cable. There are 
crimp-type connectors available for RG-6 quad that have a larger barrel 
size to accommodate the additional shielding bulk without cutting 
shielding off and defeating the purpose of the better quad-shielded 
cable in the first place.

If you need these type of connectors, they are just as cheap as regular 
"F" connectors, and will work with a standard RS-type crimper. You'll 
see that the standard RG-6 and RG-59 crimp-on connectors have circular 
ridges to allow them to be used in a standard crimping tool. Connectors 
made for RG-6 quad don't have these ridges, instead the barrel of the 
connector is smooth, and these *just* fit into a standard crimping tool.

If you plan to use RG-6 quad, I'd encourage you to get the right 
connectors and the right crimping tool. That would be as pictured at the 
top example. These work and last a lot better. A pro-grade stripper also 
helps (your crimper may have one built-in) because if you nick either 
any of the shielding as you strip, or nick the center conductor, you are 
building in a failure at the get-go. But again, there are better 
connectors and a better tool, as described below.

Here's a link to some better descriptions and a much better connector 
than the cheap ones pictured at the top of the first link:

http://www.arrisistore.com/digicon/Digicon-F-Connector-Installation-Guide.pdf

Here's the right Digicon "F" connector for quad RG-6 (the top link shows 
standard foil/braid RG-6 connectors):

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=WMFDIGI-SQ

Here's the connector installation tool (it's pricey but that's what a 
decent tool with precision jaws and a ratchet for the old-style crimp 
connectors will cost at least):

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=TLDIGIS

Here is a kit of everything needed to get started right with RG-6 
quad-shield cable. You get the connectors for RG-6 quad, the right 
connector tool, the right stripper, and some cable. After that, all you 
need to order is more cable:

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=DIGICOMBOQX

This above Digicon stuff works great. I don't know if Ebay would have 
lots cheaper prices?

The really important thing to keep in mind is that while the stuff is 
pricey, what you are buying is proper shielding and long-lasting 
relatively weatherproof connections. It does little good to get the best 
cable and then compromise it's performance to just what single 
braid/shield cable will provide because of connector installation. I can 
say from experience, *proper cable prep and connector installation* is 
critical to coaxial cables doing their job.

With a good metal box and proper cable with properly installed 
connectors, you are going to get at least 100 dB of shielding, and maybe 
a bit more with sleeve-type choking on the coax at each end (a proper 
box will provide in the neighborhood of 120 dB of attenuation via 
shielding). That's the difference between hearing a new one and having 
it buried by stuff the antenna isn't picking up, but is being leaked 
past the otherwise excellent antenna installation.

Anyway, it's food for thought when looking for that last dB of 
performance improvement. It's a lot harder to get small incremental 
improvements via the antenna once you have it pretty well adjusted and 
installed the best you can, but just by not sacrificing any antenna 
advantages in feedline issues, you at least are getting everything the 
antenna can deliver.

A group of guys could make out pretty cheaply with a shared set of tools 
if they lived close enough to swap the stuff around when doing antenna 
construction.

Rick Kunath

_______________________________________________
IRCA mailing list
IRCA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca

Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers

For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org

To Post a message: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx