[TowerTalk] Splicing LDF4

[Ian White GM3SEK]

Steve Maki wrote:
>
>The fallacy in this argument is the implication that it's difficult or 
>even impossible to weatherproof the outside of a splice. Nothing could 
>be further from the truth, is spite of some failed "attempts" by some.
>
Agreed.

10-15 years ago, when Heliax connectors were rare and expensive, I 
spliced two lengths of LDF4-50 using the brass/copper tubing method. 
This was waterproofed with self-amalgamating tape, and for mechanical 
strength I taped a double splint of aluminum angle over the whole thing.

When we moved house, I cut out that spllce and checked it.  It was 
perfect.

The same lengths of cable are back in use at our new home; but now that 
good used connectors are continually available on eBay, those are the 
preferred solution.

If there are any worries about N connectors snapping, then there's 
something very wrong with the way the whole run of cable has been 
installed. But if in doubt, either apply a splint or upgrade to 7/16 
DIN.


>I'm not trying to encourage cheaping out on connectors, just trying to 
>shed some light....after all, even proper connectors are always 
>weatherproofed in commercial installs. The VERY same weatherproofing 
>techniques will GUARANTEE a hermetic seal on homemade connections just 
>the same.
>
Just so.


-- 

73 from Ian GM3SEK         'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek