[TowerTalk] Splicing LDF4

[larryjspammenot@teleport.com]

I wondered if it was the money or just why else the Andrew, etc. connectors weren't used for making a splice. I have yet to go to a ham swap meet in the last 10 years or so (including Dayton) where I don't see lots of used 1/2" and 7/8" Heliax connectors (used) going for $2-5 each, new ones for $5-20 each. It seems like if you're going to go to all the trouble of using good feedline that good connectors would be used with it. Just my opinion, of course.


-----Original Message-----
>From: "Dubovsky, George" <George.Dubovsky at andrew.com>
>Sent: Aug 28, 2008 8:28 AM
>To: "larryjspammenot at teleport.com" <larryj at teleport.com>, towertalk at contesting.com
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Splicing LDF4
>
>If money is no object, connectors or in-line splices are a good
>solution. Above HF, perhaps the only "good" solution. In my case, I had
>a bunch of 50-60 foot lengths of 1/4" superflex, and I needed to reach a
>160 meter vertical 250 feet away. I think 4 bux of brass tubing allowed
>me to splice 4 or 5 lengths of the 1/4" together. I put proper
>connectors on the two ends, and I ran it for 3 years laying on top of
>the ground. It got replaced with buried 1/2" aluminum hard line just
>this summer. BTW, I swept the spliced cable on an HP network analyzer,
>from 1-30 MHz, and darned if I could see any degradation in insertion
>loss. Don't recall if I looked at S11. 
>
>If it's for free, it's for me...
>
>73,
>
>geo - n4ua
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
>[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
>larryjspammenot at teleport.com
>Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 11:15 AM
>To: towertalk at contesting.com
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Splicing LDF4
>
>I kept wondering why this wasn't suggested in the first place - I see it
>done at commercial 2-way radio tower sites all the time.  Proper
>weatherproofing/waterproofing of the mating connectors being done with
>tape, Scotchkote or whatever being used, of course. 
>
>Am I missing something obvious?
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Ed Richardson <ed_richardson at shaw.ca>
>>Sent: Aug 27, 2008 5:05 PM
>>To: towertalk at contesting.com
>>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Splicing LDF4
>>
>>I think the best way to splice the cable length would be to use an
>>Andrew Male N on one end and a female N on the other. Provides a great
>>solid connection that can be undone if required. Connectors can often
>be
>>found at local flea markets or even on EBay for a fraction of the cost
>>of new ones.
>>
>>This way cable will last for years without maintenance.
>>
>>Good Luck!
>>
>>Ed VE4EAR
>>
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