[TowerTalk] COAX SEAL

[Jim Brown]

Steve's points emphasize that "one size does not fit all." My connectors 
exposed to weather are on everything from vertical runs of RG8/RG11 to 
high dipoles, to rotating Yagis, to CATV coax from RX antennas. 300 ft 
runs of 7/8-in line to Yagis on towers transition to rotator loops and 
station entry panel. Some of these cable transitions do not allow for a 
drip loop. Some are laying on the ground.

UHF connectors are standard in my station for everything but hardline, 
where I use type-N. Thanks to my QTH on the wrong side of the ridge for 
VHF/UHF, the only thing I do above 6M is FM for Emcomm. Those who think 
UHF connectors are inadequate up to 100 MHz slept through their 
Transmission Lines classes.

73, Jim K9YC

On 3/10/2024 9:15 AM, Steve Maki wrote:
> You may have a different definition of "pro" that others do. Is it just 
> the broadcast industry that utilizes "pros"? That's another subject for 
> discussion.
> 
> It's true that modern connectors are theoretically weatherproof, and I 
> do not weatherproof the many 7/16 DIN connectors on my own ham station, 
> whether they are on Heliax or 3/8" RG8 stuff.
> 
> But in my (dare I say it?) professional work, our customers (AT&T, 
> Verizon, T-Mobile, etc) require it. Until recently it was always 
> tape-butyl-tape. Nowadays it's custom rubber boots...but still, it's 
> external weatherproofing.