Re: Coax as data cable

[Matt Ion <soundy106@xxxxxxxxx>]

Jim wrote:
> Matt Ion wrote:
>
>>Frank Olson wrote:
>>
>>>Don wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>I'm always looking for better ways to do things.  What are the
>>>>preferred BNC connectors and tool to attach them?
>>>>must I solder or will crimp work?
>>>>I have used crimp ons from ADI but they don't seem to stay on as well
>>>>as the twistys.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>I'm on the "wet coast".  Solder works best for most anything involving
>>>"connections".  That being said I can't recall a problem involving a
>>>"twist on" connector.  Heaters fail resulting in condensation problems
>>>and then there's the "tire iron" service call.  That's where the perp
>>>beats the crap out of the camera with a tire iron (or similar blunt
>>>object) until service is required.  :-)
>>
>>I normally use the three-piece crimp-ons, but I've also used twist-ons in a
>>pinch, and seen them in a lot of installations.  I've had a lot more problems
>>with the two-piece crimps, mostly because the shield crimps always seem to be
>>significantly larger than the cable I use, and I just can't get a tight fit on them.
>>
>>In my experience, the only time I've ever seen problems with twist-ons is when
>>they're installed poorly - insulation not stripped back enough, or stripped back
>>too much so the threads don't bite into it, etc. Of course, any connector type
>>will give you problems if you do a half-assed job of it.
>>
>>My only real problem with twist-ons is the pain in the wrists after doing any
>>more than a half-dozen or so of them.
>>
>>BTW, for those connections exposed to the elements, I find it handy to carry a
>>tube of dielectric grease, the kind sold in automotive stores for coating
>>battery posts and wiring harness connections under the hood.  Goop some of that
>>in there, then if possible, wrap it up tight in PVC tape (the stretchier, the
>>better, to you can get a good tight form-fit).
>
>
> While your at that automotive store, see if they have any spark plug
> rubber boots.
> Some that are used on foriegn cars are just big enough to slip over the
> coax and the
> F connector and with some of that silicon grease inside of it, it'll
> protect your out door connections better than tape. You can also get
> the rubber boots from various
> connector Mfg's.

Ooooo, never thought of that, that's a great idea!

I've tried heat-shrink tubing as well, but I find once I get one large enough to
fit over the connector, it won't shrink enough to actually seal the shield
crimp, even using 3:1 tubing.