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thebordella
EVDO User
Joined: 12 Mar 2007
Posts: 26
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 Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:44 pm Post subject: Is it difficult (or useful) to cut/shorten and crimp cable? |
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New day, new question!
After days of experimentation, I have finally found success with my very difficult signal situation. Ultimately, the key ingredients were a 24dbi grid antenna (designed for wifi), 12 feet of steel pole, and good aiming.
I setup this configuration with a 50 foot length of Wilson 9913 "ultra low loss" cable. It turns out that I'm getting good performance with the antenna quite close to the house. Basically, I don't need this much cable. I could probably get away with 20-25 feet.
BUT -- it was very difficult to raise the mast, and the cable connects to the antenna all the way near the top. To swap in a new cable would require taking down the antenna and I'm not real keen on that. For one, it is on a second floor and difficult to manipulate. Two, I might never find this magic aim again.
How difficult would it be to cut the cable and crimp on a new N-male connector? I have experience cutting and crimping RG59/RG6, as well as ethernet cables (not similar, I know). I just use the standard tools.
Does this 9913 require any special treatment? I don't do solder or fancy things like that. Is the gain even worth it, versus just living with the full 50 feet?
thanks! |
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n6gn
EVDO Junkie
Joined: 22 Aug 2006
Posts: 347
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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Cutting off (say) 25' of 9913 is only likely to buy you around 2 dB. Given normal variation over your path, which probably exceeds this amount, and the problems you outline, I would tend to say that if it is working OK don't disturb things. Coil the excess out of the way and call it good until the day that you need to move the antenna and cable for use elsewhere - at which point you'll still have 50' of connectored cable.
n6gn |
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Llama
EVDO Junkie
Joined: 02 Feb 2007
Posts: 182
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| Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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| n6gn wrote: | | Coil the excess |
Ah, well that would help the mess in my attic.  I mistakenly thought I should *not* coil it and have the excess (50' of LMR400) snaked a bit in my attic. 
_________________
--Larry |
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n6gn
EVDO Junkie
Joined: 22 Aug 2006
Posts: 347
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Llama wrote: | | n6gn wrote: | | Coil the excess |
Ah, well that would help the mess in my attic. I mistakenly thought I should *not* coil it and have the excess (50' of LMR400) snaked a bit in my attic. |
No, coiling is fine, just don't make the bend radius any smaller than Belden says ( haven't looked but they probably claim it is OK to a few inches). A 2' diameter coil is just fine.
BTW, I didn't really answer the connector question. Even at only 2 GHz (PCS) good connector technique is important. All of the good connector types I know of solder at least the center conductor, which is moderately large copper and takes considerable heat to solder well. In addition, at these frequencies the dielectric (aka 'insulation') is also part of the equation and it's not enough just to make connection, the manner in which you make it and how the dielectric is cut can make a measurable difference in performance. It's possible to have a connector that measures OK at DC with a VOM but in fact has considerable extra loss due to impedance mismatch at PCS frequencies. The connector or cable manufacturers usually specify how it is to be attached. I guess this is another reason not to cut your nice, already connectored, 50' cable
n6gn |
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