On 8/9/2013 11:24 PM, K8RI wrote:
<snip>
Look, I purchase and use thousands of dollars of heat shrink a year to
satisfy customers.
On my own station, I normally don't use it, unless to improve strain
relief when needed.
Please consider the possibility that your opinion has not been informed
by proper training in other methods.
I know I've not had "formal" training in any weather proofing, (zip,
nada, none) but I have tried most, follow directions well, and never had
a leaker except for the time the lightening blew off the weather
proofing. That was with the taping method, but any method would have
been blown off. I assume you have had the same experience. That we
prefer different methods of weather proofing is hardly a reason to get
upset. If you purchase thousands of dollars worth for customers it must
be a legit method.
However my days of taping connectors are over, Reverse winding with
sticky side out under tension is really difficult with one hand<:-)) and
the tower climbing is now out as well. Hence the new crank up LM470.
I think about the inexperienced weather proofing connectors and figure,
simpler is better.
I was the one who convinced AT&T to accept heat shrink in this region.
Previously butyl and vinyl tape was the only accepted method, but it was
a nightmare on panel antennas with closely spaced connectors.
However heat shrink is not fool proof either. Use a little too much heat
at the edge of the shrink tube and you compromise the coax jacket. Use
it up on the tower in high winds and it's difficult to apply *enough*
heat. It takes some practice to get it right. So it's not a matter of
simpler - it's a matter of choosing a method that works for your scenario.
I was really just commenting on your apparent belief that other methods
are inherently not as good as heat shrink tube, which just isn't so.
-Steve K8LX
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