[TowerTalk] shrink tubing & coax connectors

[K7LXC at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/2/2008 1:09:24 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:

>  I don't understand the need to use adhesive heat  shrink.  We still have 
to tape/coaxseal or whatever to make the  waterproof the connection.  Why 
are we worrying about the heat  shrink?  Isn't the heat shrink just cosmetic?


    Maybe. Regular heatshrink doesn't do very well  outside - it weathers and 
stretches - so what you wind up with is  weatherproofing that isn't 
weatherproof. Some people use it mistakenly  thinking it provides weatherproofing and 
it doesn't.
 
    If you use one of the current RF-type  heatshrinks, they're quite good. 
The rubber is thicker and  more  resistant to UV plus the glue inside melts and 
really holds it on the  connector. The glue seals it pretty well against 
water incursion. It's really  good stuff and not inexpensive.
 
Cheers,
Steve    K7LXC
TOWER TECH 








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