[TowerTalk] LMR600

[Daron J. Wilson]

Yup, it does pretty good.  However, I would recommend using the adhesive
lined heat shrink tubing included with the LMR600 fitting and installing it
per the manufacturer's recommendation (i.e. use the heat shrink).  The
supplied heat shrink is not bad, it is not nearly as thick and durable as
the 3M product used for underground electrical splices, I keep all sizes of
that as well and prefer it generally for the fittings.  There are two
issues:

1. install the fitting correctly and seal it with the coax.  For this task,
the manufacturer provides nice adhesive lined heat shrink.

2. weatherproof the fitting AFTER installed to the antenna connector.  For
this purpose, I generally wrap the connection once with good (scotch 33 or
88) vinyl tape, stretching the tape tightly and allowing it to shrink back
down as you wrap it.  Next, I coat the tape with 3M scotchkote, a nasty
gooey sealant.  When it is almost dry, I wrap the fitting assembly with a
high quality rubber tape, again, stretching it as I wrap so it sucks down
solid on the connector with each wrap.  Next, another coat of scotchkote,
then a final wrap of 33 or 88 to finish it off.  Alternately, you can use
coaxseal or 'live rubber' type products instead of the rubber tape, it is
thicker and stickier.

I just did 38 locations with yagi's and LMR600, sealed as above, nice and
solid.  I used the EZ crimp fittings which are spendy ($16) but when armed
with the EZ strip tool, the deburring tool, and the proper crimper, it saves
money in labor and they make a very nice installation.

Good luck!

N7HQR



> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-
> bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of DAVID O'NEILL
> Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 8:14 PM
> To: 'K8RI on Tower talk'; 'WA3GIN in Alex. City, VA'; 'Courtney Judd
> K4WI'; 'TowerTalk'
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] LMR600
> 
> RUBBER TAPE IS A EXELLANT MOISTURE SEALANT
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of K8RI on Tower
> talk
> Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 11:06 PM
> To: WA3GIN in Alex. City, VA; 'DAVID O'NEILL'; 'Courtney Judd K4WI';
> 'TowerTalk'
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] LMR600
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >I wrap standard vinyl electrical tape around the connector then use
> heat
> > shrink over it.
> 
> Typically, I apply the flooded 3-M heat shrink directly over the
> connector
> and out onto the coax for several inches.
> http://www.rogerhalstead.com/ham_files/connectors.htm Applying tape over
> the
> connector part would certainly make it easier to get apart.  Without the
> 
> tape it's pretty much a permanent connection you'll probably throw away
> if
> you take it apart.
> 
> Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member)
> N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2
> www.rogerhalstead.com
> 
> 
> >
> > 73,
> > dave
> > wa3gin
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> > [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of K8RI on Tower
> talk
> > Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 9:34 PM
> > To: DAVID O'NEILL; 'Courtney Judd K4WI'; 'TowerTalk'
> > Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] LMR600
> >
> > I don't know what heat shrink tubing you've been using, but I use good
> > quality commercial grade, flooded, that is widely used in industry and
> it
> > works very well and has for some years.  It does not leak water or
> even
> > moisture.
> >
> >
> >
> >
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