This topic interests me, not just because I personally abhor adaptors in any repeater system, but also because I see that others are equally passionate about certain cables.
After spending many years troubleshooting repeater systems cobbled together by my friends and colleagues, most of which were replete with every connector series known to Mankind- and which used many adapters to mate between series- I became aware that the most troublesome repeaters had the largest number of adapters. When I began to design my own repeater systems, I vowed to abide by three simple rules: 1. Use only Mil-spec RG-400/U or RG-214/U cable for jumpers and interconnecting cables, and 2. Make up these cables with the correct connectors on each end, using the specified tools, and 3. Use only crimped connectors with silver-plated brass bodies, gold-plated contacts, and Teflon dielectric. None of my systems have adaptors or "barrel" connectors, since the cables are made up to fit the job. There are no BNC or UHF connectors; except for very unusual situations, all connectors are Type N with a few mini-UHF needed to mate with a particular radio. It would not occur to me to use an adapter to mate a male N connector to a UHF female connector- I would have a premium UHF male connector on that end of the cable! Of course, this only is an issue with older radios and duplexers; the modern counterparts have female N connectors. I guess the bottom line here is that almost all double-shielded and 100% shielded cable will perform superbly in a repeater system, if properly installed. I have never heard of any repeater system that was significantly improved by replacing RG-214/U with 3/8" hardline, Superflex, or any other trendy cable- unless the original installation was flawed. We should all be ready to accept that a flawed installation does not condemn a cable brand or type. In my personal opinion, the use of adapters in place of the exactly correct connectors leads to a flawed installation. YMMV! 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jay Urish Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 7:04 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Loss through adaptors: Yea, I use the heck out of LMR-400UF.. Please enlighton me! Dave VanHorn wrote: >>For tight spots, consider superflex 1/4 or 3/8 >>in hard line. I actually use the mini 141 rigid >>line for modest power levels. > > > FSJ1-50 now in every cable except my adaptor mess (soon to be replaced) > and the 2M duplexer harness. > > >>Avoid trying to use foam center cables where >>possible. > > > My FJS1-50 is foam, what's the beef with foam? > -- Jay Urish W5GM DCARA President ARRL Life Member TXFCA President ERS Vice-Prez Denton County ARRL VEC N5ERS VP/Trustee Monitoring 1292.30Ghz PL-100.0 441.375 PL-88.5 and 444.850 PL-88.5 Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
