Re: [time-nuts] Symmetricom 58532A GPS Antenna : Launch3 Surplus

[George Atkinson via time-nuts]

There is one highly effective, if somewhat messy, solution to sealing 
connectors. It's a "tape" made of open weave fabric impregnated with petrolium 
compounds. It'd main use is protecting pipework etc. In the UK it's often 
called Denso tape.
http://www.denso.net/densotape/index.htm
In the USA one brand is Petro-Tape 
http://www.premcrete.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Petro-Tape_XP.pdf   
In Canada PetroWrap
http://www.insulmastic.com/index.php/products/marine-division/20-petrowrap%C2%AE-anti-corrosion-tape.html
I'ts almost like a mastic and forms a skin after a while. Not something you 
would use were you would bump into it, but I've taked down antennas that were 
decades old and the connectors looked like new once the tape was removed.

Robert G8RPI.
> On 18 February 2018 at 17:44 Bob kb8tq  wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi
> 
> One of the other variables in all this is the type of coax you use. The “best 
> stuff” is flooded with silicon goop that is an absolute mess to deal with. 
> It also will have a jacket on it that withstands UV better than the typical 
> stuff. You may or may not need the UV protection, but you get it anyway. 
> 
> No, this will not help the innards of the antenna. Water (and salt and 
> whatever ..)
> moves both ways from the connector. 
> 
> Bob
> 
> > On Feb 18, 2018, at 12:19 PM, Angus via time-nuts  
> > wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > Hi,
> > 
> > The problem is that because of the type and position of the connectors
> > on so many of the Trimble, Novatel, etc., antennas, it's practically
> > impossible to seal them with something easily removed like self
> > amalgamating tape. Antennas like the 58532A make life a lot simpler by
> > hiding the connector up a tube.
> > 
> > The idea seems to be that nickel plated brass TNC connectors are all
> > that's needed, but it's not that simple - particularly for coastal or
> > marine use. 
> > In fairness, even a lot of manufacturers of dedicated marine gear
> > vastly underestimate where water can get to and what damage it will do
> > - at least they did back in the 1990's when I was working with that
> > stuff. It could take a very long time (if ever) for them to be
> > convinced that what works in their nice little environmental test
> > chamber could possibly fail out in the big bad world!
> > 
> >> However, for the past 10 years or so I have been using double wall 
> >> adhesive lined heat shrink tubing. My local electronics and electrical 
> >> supplies carry this product and it is not that expensive. This I find 
> >> both quicker to install, neater, more reliable, and much easier to 
> >> remove than the rubber tape followed by vinyl tape method.
> > 
> > I was not convinced about adhesive lined heat shrink when I tried it
> > since it usually didn't seem to bond well enough to withstand bending,
> > although I've not tried the newer types. It probably wasn't the
> > premium quality tubing Adrian mentioned either.
> > The PIB based self amalgamating tapes had to be well taped up and did
> > not like oil, but the EPDM and PE ones we used were less sensitive
> > although they still needed to be taped up.
> > 
> > Since I wanted to be able to swap them easily, I eventually got some
> > Amphenol ARC TNC connectors for the GPS antennas, but still chickened
> > out of using the heat shrink supplied and went for self amalgamating
> > tape instead for sealing the crimp. I really should try the unused
> > heat shrink on something to see how it does.
> > 
> > Angus.
> > 
> > ___
> > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> > To unsubscribe, go to 
> > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> > and follow the instructions there.
> 
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

Re: [time-nuts] Symmetricom 58532A GPS Antenna : Launch3 Surplus

[Bob kb8tq]

Hi

One of the other variables in all this is the type of coax you use. The “best 
stuff” is flooded with silicon goop that is an absolute mess to deal with. 
It also will have a jacket on it that withstands UV better than the typical 
stuff. You may or may not need the UV protection, but you get it anyway. 

No, this will not help the innards of the antenna. Water (and salt and whatever 
..)
moves both ways from the connector. 

Bob

> On Feb 18, 2018, at 12:19 PM, Angus via time-nuts  wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi,
> 
> The problem is that because of the type and position of the connectors
> on so many of the Trimble, Novatel, etc., antennas, it's practically
> impossible to seal them with something easily removed like self
> amalgamating tape. Antennas like the 58532A make life a lot simpler by
> hiding the connector up a tube.
> 
> The idea seems to be that nickel plated brass TNC connectors are all
> that's needed, but it's not that simple - particularly for coastal or
> marine use. 
> In fairness, even a lot of manufacturers of dedicated marine gear
> vastly underestimate where water can get to and what damage it will do
> - at least they did back in the 1990's when I was working with that
> stuff. It could take a very long time (if ever) for them to be
> convinced that what works in their nice little environmental test
> chamber could possibly fail out in the big bad world!
> 
>> However, for the past 10 years or so I have been using double wall 
>> adhesive lined heat shrink tubing. My local electronics and electrical 
>> supplies carry this product and it is not that expensive. This I find 
>> both quicker to install, neater, more reliable, and much easier to 
>> remove than the rubber tape followed by vinyl tape method.
> 
> I was not convinced about adhesive lined heat shrink when I tried it
> since it usually didn't seem to bond well enough to withstand bending,
> although I've not tried the newer types. It probably wasn't the
> premium quality tubing Adrian mentioned either.
> The PIB based self amalgamating tapes had to be well taped up and did
> not like oil, but the EPDM and PE ones we used were less sensitive
> although they still needed to be taped up.
> 
> Since I wanted to be able to swap them easily, I eventually got some
> Amphenol ARC TNC connectors for the GPS antennas, but still chickened
> out of using the heat shrink supplied and went for self amalgamating
> tape instead for sealing the crimp. I really should try the unused
> heat shrink on something to see how it does.
> 
> Angus.
> 
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.

___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

Re: [time-nuts] Symmetricom 58532A GPS Antenna : Launch3 Surplus

[Angus via time-nuts]

Hi,

The problem is that because of the type and position of the connectors
on so many of the Trimble, Novatel, etc., antennas, it's practically
impossible to seal them with something easily removed like self
amalgamating tape. Antennas like the 58532A make life a lot simpler by
hiding the connector up a tube.

The idea seems to be that nickel plated brass TNC connectors are all
that's needed, but it's not that simple - particularly for coastal or
marine use. 
In fairness, even a lot of manufacturers of dedicated marine gear
vastly underestimate where water can get to and what damage it will do
- at least they did back in the 1990's when I was working with that
stuff. It could take a very long time (if ever) for them to be
convinced that what works in their nice little environmental test
chamber could possibly fail out in the big bad world!

>However, for the past 10 years or so I have been using double wall 
>adhesive lined heat shrink tubing. My local electronics and electrical 
>supplies carry this product and it is not that expensive. This I find 
>both quicker to install, neater, more reliable, and much easier to 
>remove than the rubber tape followed by vinyl tape method.

I was not convinced about adhesive lined heat shrink when I tried it
since it usually didn't seem to bond well enough to withstand bending,
although I've not tried the newer types. It probably wasn't the
premium quality tubing Adrian mentioned either.
The PIB based self amalgamating tapes had to be well taped up and did
not like oil, but the EPDM and PE ones we used were less sensitive
although they still needed to be taped up.

Since I wanted to be able to swap them easily, I eventually got some
Amphenol ARC TNC connectors for the GPS antennas, but still chickened
out of using the heat shrink supplied and went for self amalgamating
tape instead for sealing the crimp. I really should try the unused
heat shrink on something to see how it does.

Angus.

___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

Re: [time-nuts] Symmetricom 58532A GPS Antenna : Launch3 Surplus

[Graham]

for many years I used the self amalgamating rubber tape like Coax Seal 
http://coaxseal.com/products/ with a couple of layers of good quality 
vinyl electrical such as Scotch super 33+ tape over top.


Scotch also sells a product called Linerless Rubber Splicing Tape 130C 
which is similar in use to Coax Seal which I now use in preference to 
Coax Seal. Nothing wrong with the Coax Seal product but I can get the 
Scotch products at the local Home Depot.


However, for the past 10 years or so I have been using double wall 
adhesive lined heat shrink tubing. My local electronics and electrical 
supplies carry this product and it is not that expensive. This I find 
both quicker to install, neater, more reliable, and much easier to 
remove than the rubber tape followed by vinyl tape method.


As Mark noted, there are also products for use in direct burial 
applications but I have no first hand experience with those specific 
products. I have buried splices for my own use by using a layer of 
double wall heat shrink with adhesive followed by a layer linerless 
rubber splicing tap and vinyl tape. I have not had an occasion to dig up 
any of my spliced cables so I don't know how they have held up but so 
far they have not failed in any way that I can tell.


cheers, Graham ve3gtc


On 2018-02-10 02:41, Mark Sims wrote:

3M has a product called Cold Shrink tubing.  It is designed to seal high 
voltage, etc cables in buried installations.  It is a silicone (?) rubber 
stretched over a collapsable polyethylene core.  You run the cable through the 
core and pull on a tab which unwinds the core and the stretched silicone 
collapses and forms a water tight seal.

I have not used it to seal cables, but have used to replace polyurethane 
coatings on printer platens (Tek TDR thermal printers and HP9100 calculator 
electrostatic printers) that have turned to goo.
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

[time-nuts] Symmetricom 58532A GPS Antenna : Launch3 Surplus

[Mark Sims]

3M has a product called Cold Shrink tubing.  It is designed to seal high 
voltage, etc cables in buried installations.  It is a silicone (?) rubber 
stretched over a collapsable polyethylene core.  You run the cable through the 
core and pull on a tab which unwinds the core and the stretched silicone 
collapses and forms a water tight seal.

I have not used it to seal cables, but have used to replace polyurethane 
coatings on printer platens (Tek TDR thermal printers and HP9100 calculator 
electrostatic printers) that have turned to goo.
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

Re: [time-nuts] Symmetricom 58532A GPS Antenna : Launch3 Surplus

[Adrian Godwin]

It's called 'adhesive lined heatshrink'. Yes, it's available, though a reel
of the Good Stuff (Raychem) costs a small fortune.
They also make custom boots to fit various standard connectors.

Probably best bought as surplus or from a trusted seller who bought reels
from military, autosport or aircraft industries. The short lengths
available on ebay are often inferior grades. A heatshrinking tape is also
available.

Hams tend to use self-amalgamating tape, as Phil recommended.

On Sat, Feb 10, 2018 at 12:41 AM, Hal Murray 
wrote:

>
> li...@philpem.me.uk said:
> > Generally speaking, you can seal most RF connectors quite nicely with a
> few
> > layers of self-amalgamating tape and a layer of PVC tape over the top of
> > that (to protect from UV).
>
> Many years ago, I picked up a chunk of scrap the local cable TV installer
> had
> left on the ground underneath the utility pole out in front of my house.
> It
> was a chunk of industrial strength shrink wrap with a layer of goop on the
> inside.
>
> Is that stuff available in small quantities?  Would the antenna withstand
> the
> necessary heat?
>
> How do hams seal antenna connectors?
>
>
> --
> These are my opinions.  I hate spam.
>
>
>
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/
> mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.
>
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

Re: [time-nuts] Symmetricom 58532A GPS Antenna : Launch3 Surplus

[Bob kb8tq]

Hi

There are tapes designed for waterproofing things like coax connectors.

Bob

> On Feb 9, 2018, at 7:41 PM, Hal Murray  wrote:
> 
> 
> li...@philpem.me.uk said:
>> Generally speaking, you can seal most RF connectors quite nicely with a few
>> layers of self-amalgamating tape and a layer of PVC tape over the top of
>> that (to protect from UV). 
> 
> Many years ago, I picked up a chunk of scrap the local cable TV installer had 
> left on the ground underneath the utility pole out in front of my house.  It 
> was a chunk of industrial strength shrink wrap with a layer of goop on the 
> inside.
> 
> Is that stuff available in small quantities?  Would the antenna withstand the 
> necessary heat?
> 
> How do hams seal antenna connectors?
> 
> 
> -- 
> These are my opinions.  I hate spam.
> 
> 
> 
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.

___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

Re: [time-nuts] Symmetricom 58532A GPS Antenna : Launch3 Surplus

[Hal Murray]

li...@philpem.me.uk said:
> Generally speaking, you can seal most RF connectors quite nicely with a few
> layers of self-amalgamating tape and a layer of PVC tape over the top of
> that (to protect from UV). 

Many years ago, I picked up a chunk of scrap the local cable TV installer had 
left on the ground underneath the utility pole out in front of my house.  It 
was a chunk of industrial strength shrink wrap with a layer of goop on the 
inside.

Is that stuff available in small quantities?  Would the antenna withstand the 
necessary heat?

How do hams seal antenna connectors?


-- 
These are my opinions.  I hate spam.



___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

Re: [time-nuts] Symmetricom 58532A GPS Antenna : Launch3 Surplus

[Philip Pemberton]

On 06/02/18 22:21, Angus via time-nuts wrote:
> On Tue, 6 Feb 2018 14:54:23 -0500, you wrote:
> 
>> 3) it’s designed for continuous outdoor use  (connector is well shielded etc)
> 
> That's something that has always baffled me - the number of antennas
> which the manufacturers claim are suitable for long term outdoor use
> that have connectors which are impossible to seal without large
> quantities of sealant or whatever.

Generally speaking, you can seal most RF connectors quite nicely with a
few layers of self-amalgamating tape and a layer of PVC tape over the
top of that (to protect from UV).

Practically speaking, if the antenna is mounted on the top of a pole,
>95% of the rainwater is going to run down the side of the antenna and
drip off the edge (assuming something shaped roughly like a PCTel 26dB
timing antenna). The seals are more use if the antenna is mounted on a
flat surface.


-- 
Phil.
li...@philpem.me.uk
http://www.philpem.me.uk/
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

Re: [time-nuts] Symmetricom 58532A GPS Antenna : Launch3 Surplus

[Angus via time-nuts]

On Tue, 6 Feb 2018 14:54:23 -0500, you wrote:

>3) it’s designed for continuous outdoor use  (connector is well shielded etc)

That's something that has always baffled me - the number of antennas
which the manufacturers claim are suitable for long term outdoor use
that have connectors which are impossible to seal without large
quantities of sealant or whatever.

Angus.
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

Re: [time-nuts] Symmetricom 58532A GPS Antenna : Launch3 Surplus

[Bob kb8tq]

Hi

That’s likely a “better” antenna for a TBolt-only setup than the L1 / L2 gizmo 
that
we have been chatting about. Why? 

1) if it’s still $25 it would be ~ 1/4 the price

2) it has a pretty good filter built into it. 

3) it’s designed for continuous outdoor use  (connector is well shielded etc)

4) It’s smaller and easier to mount 

Lots to like.

Bob

> On Feb 6, 2018, at 2:45 PM, Gregory Beat  wrote:
> 
> https://www.febo.com/pipermail/time-nuts/2015-October/094105.html
> In 2014 and 2015 Launch3 Telecom offered NOS Symmetricom 58532A GPS Antennas 
> at a good price ($25 each) to time-nuts members  These were surplus (>750), 
> never used, due to mobile/cellular company merger over decade ago.  Looks 
> like they still have some.
> https://www.launch3telecom.com/symmetricom/58532a.html
> Symmetricom 58532A GPS Antenna -- Data-sheet
> http://www.microsemi.com/document-portal/doc_view/133381-58532a
> Launch3Telecom.com
> 27 Daniel Road
> Fairfield, New Jersey 07004
> ===
> 
> Sent from iPad Air
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.

___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

[time-nuts] Symmetricom 58532A GPS Antenna : Launch3 Surplus

[Gregory Beat]

https://www.febo.com/pipermail/time-nuts/2015-October/094105.html
In 2014 and 2015 Launch3 Telecom offered NOS Symmetricom 58532A GPS Antennas at 
a good price ($25 each) to time-nuts members  These were surplus (>750), never 
used, due to mobile/cellular company merger over decade ago.  Looks like they 
still have some.
https://www.launch3telecom.com/symmetricom/58532a.html
Symmetricom 58532A GPS Antenna -- Data-sheet
http://www.microsemi.com/document-portal/doc_view/133381-58532a
Launch3Telecom.com
27 Daniel Road
Fairfield, New Jersey 07004
===

Sent from iPad Air
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.