Charlie
As someone that works with RF ALL DAY every day, my suggestion is to replace the cable. Signal loss from splices and connectors, especially in the potentially highly oxidizing / corrosive marine environments will or could eventually- and most likely – render the radio useless. Always try to make antenna to transmitter a single continuous run. Also, if you are not a “pro” at crimping cables putting your own ends on without proper tools and technique is not a good idea either. Factory cables the appropriate length are better than most handmade ones… splicing in the middle is a bad idea. As to cable - As a rule of thumb, the greater diameter the cable, the less the signal loss. And yes signal loss matters even in low power VHF applications. I prefer “quad” cables… that’s quad shielded. JP S/V Alethea C&C 43-1 From: Charlie Nelson via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2022 12:22 PM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: cenel...@aol.com Subject: Stus-List Mast head antenna cable Ahoy all; I had my 27 yr old rod rigging replaced this past summer. In the process, the yard cut the antenna cable (and a few others) at the base of the mast. ( The antenna wire looks to be shielded coaxial cable of a relatively small diameter--much closer to RG-51 size than RG-8 (I used to use those cables long, long ago!). Unless I replace all the cable to the masthead, which would be a big job, I prefer to just solder/crimp/ the current two ends of the cable. They are a PITA to reach under the cockpit sole but perhaps less of a PITA than having a new one installed from the antenna down to the radio. My question to the list: A recommendation of what to do (replace or splice) and if replace with what cable. This would probably take a trip up the mast to determine what that connection is, plus another to get the cable up to the antenna. If splice, with what fittings. Way back when, with a proper tool, I made up many RG-51 cables with BNC fittings (male and female) but that requires the 'crimping tool" for the male end at least. What I am hoping is a simple method or fitting that can be soldered such that both the shield and the signal wire are properly connected again with a minimum of cost and trouble while still maintaining a good continuous shield wire and a good continuous signal wire. All suggestions are welcome. Thanks, Charlie Nelson Water Phantom 1995 C&C 36 XL/kcb
