Coax Connectors

[Filthy]

So my new house is just about complete. I had the electrician run RG6 for my dual lnb and then to all the rooms that I plan to have satellite. It is my responsibility to put the connectors on the coax. What is the preferred method of doing this? Is a coax tool the best or are the screw on connectors the best? If it is the coax tool, any recommendations on a good one that costs around $20?

[Dede]

I just use a cheap one like this, paid 9$ at Home Depot. A bit of a squeeze for RG6 connectors, but if you've got a strong pair of hands, it shouln't be a problem;

http://www.radioshack.ca/eStore/Product.aspx?language=en-CA&product=2780220&category=Wire+Management&catalo g=RadioShack

[Bent]

RS also offers a leveraged (?) type for about twenty five bucks, can't recall the model number.
I have one, works great, (but you know what happens when you loan out tools, I haven't seen it in 3 months and nobody "remembers" borrowing it from me).

You could buy one and split the cost with a friend and be way ahead.

[Filthy]

Is there a difference between an RG59 and an RG6 connector?

Also, is there an easy way to identify wires that have been strung throughout the house? Example, I have 2 coming in from outside, I have two going to my home theater room, one to the master, and one to the kitchen. All of these cables go to the electrical panel and non have been marked. I thought that I would add the connectors, then play a vcr down by the power panel and then hook a 13" tv up to each wire to identify which wire is which. This sounds like a very labour intensive project, is there an easier way?

[Bent]

they are both f-type connectors, but the jacket on a RG-6 is bigger, so a '59 wouldn't fit as well.

as far as identifying cables, do you have an ohmeter? try ringing the cables - you short the sheath to the center conductor on one end (or center to a ground) and then at the other end, you use your meter to check for continuity.
disconnect and repeat for each cable.

And, the day is coming for Evu to do dual sat, I would pull one more pair of RG-6 to each room, as well as to your dish (or at least a pull-string for later) if the house is still in it's framing stage, then now is the time to do it.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

These wires should have been marked by the electrician when they were installed. Pretty crappy that he was too lazy to do this.

At any rate, I don't think there's an easier way. You could use a "toner" like the phone guy uses, but of course, if you don't have one at your disposal, that's no help.

If you shorted the braid to the center conductor on one end, you could use a continuity tester on the other.

[Dede]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

RS also offers a leveraged (?) type for about twenty five bucks, can't recall the model number.

<hr></blockquote>

This one /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

http://www.radioshack.ca/eStore/Product.aspx?language=en-CA&amp;product=2780238&amp;category=Wire+Management&amp;catalo g=RadioShack

[Bent]

Yes, tha's the one.

So it's you who has it!

[Skyway]

A lot of electricians will mark the cables by using a pair of side cutters to create a number of impressions on the side of the coax identifying each cable with 1 mark, 2 marks, 3 marks, etc...

[MrVH]

The best thing for your outside connections would be Snap 'n Seal connectors, they are by far the best, but you also need a specialized crimper, which you probably won't want to purchase for just two ends:
http://www.barrettxplore.com/images/tn_SNS6.jpg

So, the best thing for the outside would be to stay with good quality gold (cadmium plated) F56 connectors, silicone-impregnated, with rubber O-ring:
http://www.barrettxplore.com/images/tn_910-0278.jpg

Inside use good quality diecast F56 connectors:
http://www.barrettxplore.com/images/tn_910-0058.jpg

For crimping, do not purchase the lower priced crimpers, go for these ones that were mentioned:
http://www.radioshack.ca/images/RadioShack/27/2780238l.jpg

The crimping is critically important. You can cause hours of painful troubleshooting from one bad F-connector crimp if you're not careful.

You will want to strip the coaxial cable as below, and push and twist the F-connector back and forth a bit until the base of the stripped copper centre is even with the inside of the F-connector. When you cut the cable before stripping, make sure you cut it at an angle so the cable inserts easily into whatever you are connecting. As well, make sure none of the shielding pieces of wire push through the top of the connector so that they may touch the copper centre as it will short the system out, especially if this is a feeder to the dish.

http://www.virtualhelp.ca/images/rg6crimp.jpg

[Bart]

If you're by yourself and want to check which wire goes where put a 75 ohm terminating resister on the coax in the room you want to check. Go to the entrance and check the resistance from the center conductor to the shield of each cable. Saves a lot of running back and forth.

Cheers

[Bent]

MrVH, excellent point about cutting the center conductor on a angle, I've been doing this out of habbit, but for the heck of it - I tried a right-angle cut....
talk about a pain trying to insert it into a block.

[b_p_smith]

And to expand slightly on what Bart says, if you have a *lot* of cables to check, you can use other resistor values.

Since all you're doing is checking DC resistance, use of 75ohms (which refers to impedance, not resistance) isn't an issue. Use whatever you have around, but different enough to allow for tolerance. For example, use 1k, 2k, 3k, etc.

At the "hub", where all the cables come out, stick the various resistors on various cables. Use labels or something to mark these ("1", "2", etc).

Now wander around with your multimeter and measure reistance at each other cable end. Assuming you kept good notes, you should be able to determine and mark the other ends based on the resistance readings.

[kingston]

If you have no equipment at all, and are sure they are unused wires, just attach a 9v battery on one and use the old tongue test. lol

[Filthy]

Thanks Guys (Kingston, I'll try your method last!).

[Filthy]

Well, I splurged, just dropped $60 at Radio Shack on a good crimper and a number of F56 connectors. A little expensive, but hey, at least I can now make professional cables!

[Bent]

you must have bought a SNS type for that kind of cash.

Stirling?

[**DONOTDELETE**]

MrVH,
You provide a good tutorial. Only thing I like to add is the handle that screws into the F56
connectors. I think I got mine at Home Depot with a bunch of connectors. It's a great tool
to make insertion of the F56 easy.

[2scoop]

"the handle that screws into the F56
connectors. I think I got mine at Home Depot"

I second that, this thing rocks, especially if you have to do a lot of terminations.

2

[GOD]

LOL...another weekend warrior has just joined the ranks ! /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

[gavorney]

Here's my dumb question: why do you need a crimper at all? Why can't you just use pliers to pinch the connector? I'm not sure I'm ready for the answer because that is what I did when I installed my dish 3 years ago, and it seems to work just fine.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

You can use pliers, but the object here is an even "crimp" not mashing the coaxial connector together. The dielectric in the coaxial cable should not be "squished", otherwise your cable performance could suffer.

[Danks]

I bought the heavy duty crimpers. Not any better than pliers IMO.

I respect there are folks here who install for a living and they have spoken.

That said, I have had better luck with twist on connectors and the "black art" of making good crimp-on connection just seems to escape me. My twist-on connection has survived admirably for two wet, snowy NS winters lying on the open ground.

If you continue to experience difficulty getting a good connection with crimped terminals, try the twist-ons. I prefer 'em and they certainly have worked better for me.

If anyone wants the Radio Shack "Professional Hex-Crimping Tool" (complete with $24.99 price sticker still on it), part 278-238, mine is for sale. Used once (LOL!). Asking ten bucks plus postage. They are heavy, so allow about $3 for postage.

Don't all email me at once now. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

[MrVH]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

I bought the heavy duty crimpers. Not any better than pliers IMO.

I respect there are folks here who install for a living and they have spoken.

That said, I have had better luck with twist on connectors and the "black art" of making good crimp-on connection just seems to escape me. My twist-on connection has survived admirably for two wet, snowy NS winters lying on the open ground.

<hr></blockquote>
Yup. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

Everytime I go on a service call to a house that has self-installed, 99.999999% (not an overstatement) of the time the problem is cable ends. 25 bucks is WELL WORTH a house full of wiring.

My dad has a saying... "Only the rich can afford junk". Do it right the first time and you won't have to worry.

[Filthy]

Two months have passed and my home wiring is still working 100%. Looks like the investment in crimpers and good connectors was worth it!

[snoman]

Yup, you can't go wrong with that.
I use that myself for putting up my BUD and SC dishes.
Never a connection problem after that.