Discussion:
F-connectors
(too old to reply)
PeterC
2023-09-30 17:14:11 UTC
Permalink
Just installed a dish and the provided connectors were crap. One was going
on easily by hand, almost to the point of tightening, and splits appeared
and a piece of the metal fell out! Fortunately I have some in stock.

I've had issues before. Four on an LNB, tied to avoid stress, taped and in
use for several years. LNB's cover cracked up (an LNB isn't very good when
it's full of water), so removed it, cut off the tape and two of the
connectors were cracke just below the thread - there is only a very thin
annulus there.

Is there actually a more robust make - some I have came from SF and some
from a supplier that claimed good quality?
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway
alan_m
2023-09-30 17:28:57 UTC
Permalink
Post by PeterC
Just installed a dish and the provided connectors were crap. One was going
on easily by hand, almost to the point of tightening, and splits appeared
and a piece of the metal fell out! Fortunately I have some in stock.
I've had issues before. Four on an LNB, tied to avoid stress, taped and in
use for several years. LNB's cover cracked up (an LNB isn't very good when
it's full of water), so removed it, cut off the tape and two of the
connectors were cracke just below the thread - there is only a very thin
annulus there.
Is there actually a more robust make - some I have came from SF and some
from a supplier that claimed good quality?
Compression type F plugs


Kit of tool and plugs around £12 on Ebay.
--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
PeterC
2023-10-01 17:31:13 UTC
Permalink
Post by alan_m
Post by PeterC
Just installed a dish and the provided connectors were crap. One was going
on easily by hand, almost to the point of tightening, and splits appeared
and a piece of the metal fell out! Fortunately I have some in stock.
I've had issues before. Four on an LNB, tied to avoid stress, taped and in
use for several years. LNB's cover cracked up (an LNB isn't very good when
it's full of water), so removed it, cut off the tape and two of the
connectors were cracke just below the thread - there is only a very thin
annulus there.
Is there actually a more robust make - some I have came from SF and some
from a supplier that claimed good quality?
Compression type F plugs
http://youtu.be/78GWKwRUngE
Kit of tool and plugs around £12 on Ebay.
Thanks, but they don't address the issue of screwing to the LNB or box,
which is where mine fell apart - or the v. thin annulus.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway
alan_m
2023-10-01 17:58:03 UTC
Permalink
Post by PeterC
Post by alan_m
Post by PeterC
Just installed a dish and the provided connectors were crap. One was going
on easily by hand, almost to the point of tightening, and splits appeared
and a piece of the metal fell out! Fortunately I have some in stock.
I've had issues before. Four on an LNB, tied to avoid stress, taped and in
use for several years. LNB's cover cracked up (an LNB isn't very good when
it's full of water), so removed it, cut off the tape and two of the
connectors were cracke just below the thread - there is only a very thin
annulus there.
Is there actually a more robust make - some I have came from SF and some
from a supplier that claimed good quality?
Compression type F plugs
http://youtu.be/78GWKwRUngE
Kit of tool and plugs around £12 on Ebay.
Thanks, but they don't address the issue of screwing to the LNB or box,
which is where mine fell apart - or the v. thin annulus.
Over the years I've used lots of (cheap) screw on F connectors and the
only two I've had fail were right angled F connector adapters*. The
right angled ones failed because the inner was a two part assembly put
together with a poor quality push fit. I've never had the straight type
attached to the cable fail.

When attached to a LNB I've always put a bit of grease on the inner of
the connector and waterproofed the whole connection with self
amalgamating tape. When I had an LNB fail after 10+years** the F
connections were still in pristine condition.


*The type of adapter that failed
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/382477070283

**UV had made the front plastic cover of the horn go brittle and some
had fallen away allowing water ingress.
--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
PeterC
2023-10-02 16:30:32 UTC
Permalink
Post by alan_m
Post by PeterC
Post by alan_m
Post by PeterC
Is there actually a more robust make - some I have came from SF and some
from a supplier that claimed good quality?
Compression type F plugs
http://youtu.be/78GWKwRUngE
Kit of tool and plugs around £12 on Ebay.
Thanks, but they don't address the issue of screwing to the LNB or box,
which is where mine fell apart - or the v. thin annulus.
Over the years I've used lots of (cheap) screw on F connectors and the
only two I've had fail were right angled F connector adapters*. The
right angled ones failed because the inner was a two part assembly put
together with a poor quality push fit. I've never had the straight type
attached to the cable fail.
The worst that I had was one being screwed on to the cable, so just a little
bit of load on the box end (my digits are not dainty) and the annulus
cracked apart!
Post by alan_m
When attached to a LNB I've always put a bit of grease on the inner of
the connector and waterproofed the whole connection with self
amalgamating tape. When I had an LNB fail after 10+years** the F
connections were still in pristine condition.
I use a v. small amount of Johnson's Baby Oil (as recommended for hair
trimmers etc. by an assistant in Boots) applied with a v. small brush. Just
a bit on the rotating joint and the box-end threads helps a lot.
I avoid grease or mineral oil as it might get where the tape goes.
Post by alan_m
**UV had made the front plastic cover of the horn go brittle and some
had fallen away allowing water ingress.
Same here. Dried it out and used the bottom bit of a small plastic bottle as
a cover - worked as new.
Bloody daft, making something that can't stand up to normal use.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway
JMB99
2023-10-02 17:21:34 UTC
Permalink
Post by PeterC
I avoid grease or mineral oil as it might get where the tape goes.
They advise that anywhere that self-amalgamating tape is going to be
applied to be free of any oil or grease and usually cleaned with solvent.

Also recommended that the tape is kept warm if in an exposed location -
usually cut in advance then put and under the coat to keep it warm -
often under the armpit.
Bob Latham
2023-10-01 18:59:26 UTC
Permalink
Post by PeterC
Post by alan_m
Post by PeterC
Is there actually a more robust make - some I have came from SF and some
from a supplier that claimed good quality?
Compression type F plugs
http://youtu.be/78GWKwRUngE
Kit of tool and plugs around £12 on Ebay.
Thanks, but they don't address the issue of screwing to the LNB or box,
which is where mine fell apart - or the v. thin annulus.
F-connectors I use these and have had no problems since.

https://cpc.farnell.com/vision/fm02/plug-f-twist-on-rg6-100/dp/CN20704?MER=sy-me-pd-mi-acce

Bob.
PeterC
2023-10-02 16:31:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by Bob Latham
Post by PeterC
Post by alan_m
Post by PeterC
Is there actually a more robust make - some I have came from SF and some
from a supplier that claimed good quality?
Compression type F plugs
http://youtu.be/78GWKwRUngE
Kit of tool and plugs around £12 on Ebay.
Thanks, but they don't address the issue of screwing to the LNB or box,
which is where mine fell apart - or the v. thin annulus.
F-connectors I use these and have had no problems since.
https://cpc.farnell.com/vision/fm02/plug-f-twist-on-rg6-100/dp/CN20704?MER=sy-me-pd-mi-acce
Bob.
They do look robust - bookmarked, thanks.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway
Brian Gaff
2023-10-01 16:52:46 UTC
Permalink
Oh, goodness. I can remember one that was so soft that you could squash it
between your finger and thumb. Plating, what is plating.....

Brian
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Post by PeterC
Just installed a dish and the provided connectors were crap. One was going
on easily by hand, almost to the point of tightening, and splits appeared
and a piece of the metal fell out! Fortunately I have some in stock.
I've had issues before. Four on an LNB, tied to avoid stress, taped and in
use for several years. LNB's cover cracked up (an LNB isn't very good when
it's full of water), so removed it, cut off the tape and two of the
connectors were cracke just below the thread - there is only a very thin
annulus there.
Is there actually a more robust make - some I have came from SF and some
from a supplier that claimed good quality?
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway
R. Mark Clayton
2023-10-02 10:30:31 UTC
Permalink
Post by PeterC
Just installed a dish and the provided connectors were crap. One was going
on easily by hand, almost to the point of tightening, and splits appeared
and a piece of the metal fell out! Fortunately I have some in stock.
I've had issues before. Four on an LNB, tied to avoid stress, taped and in
use for several years. LNB's cover cracked up (an LNB isn't very good when
it's full of water), so removed it, cut off the tape and two of the
connectors were cracke just below the thread - there is only a very thin
annulus there.
Is there actually a more robust make - some I have came from SF and some
from a supplier that claimed good quality?
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway
I got mine from Maplin last century - not experienced these problems. Outside connections are bigger on CT125 cable.
Brian Gaff
2023-10-04 11:29:12 UTC
Permalink
Why did the industry go with those plugs? I'd have though the small sma
types were more robust for the lnb end.
Brian
--
--:
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
***@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
Post by R. Mark Clayton
Post by PeterC
Just installed a dish and the provided connectors were crap. One was going
on easily by hand, almost to the point of tightening, and splits appeared
and a piece of the metal fell out! Fortunately I have some in stock.
I've had issues before. Four on an LNB, tied to avoid stress, taped and in
use for several years. LNB's cover cracked up (an LNB isn't very good when
it's full of water), so removed it, cut off the tape and two of the
connectors were cracke just below the thread - there is only a very thin
annulus there.
Is there actually a more robust make - some I have came from SF and some
from a supplier that claimed good quality?
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway
I got mine from Maplin last century - not experienced these problems.
Outside connections are bigger on CT125 cable.
Woody
2023-10-04 14:29:21 UTC
Permalink
Post by Brian Gaff
Why did the industry go with those plugs? I'd have though the small sma
types were more robust for the lnb end.
SMA or SMB would be far too small to handle 100 or 125 cables - they are
mainly used on RG174. At LNB out frequencies the loss of RG174 would be
1-1.5dB/ft.
Brian Gaff
2023-10-05 10:21:00 UTC
Permalink
Hmm, I remember them being used for patch leads inside microwave military
gear. I have also a DAB receiver here somewhere that uses one for the aerial
but that is only band 3 of course.

I know at first the larger cable of Virgin used a connector that gave a lot
of issues where its centre was the wire itself. Later ones seem to be a lot
better.


Plugs and sockets are interesting though, as the standard aerial coaxial
plugs and sockets are still used even though most uhf downleads these days
are much thicker and substantial than the old low loss cables that we used
to use that cracked and let water in, all too easily.
Brian
--
--:
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
***@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
Post by Woody
Post by Brian Gaff
Why did the industry go with those plugs? I'd have though the small sma
types were more robust for the lnb end.
SMA or SMB would be far too small to handle 100 or 125 cables - they are
mainly used on RG174. At LNB out frequencies the loss of RG174 would be
1-1.5dB/ft.
R. Mark Clayton
2023-10-04 15:47:37 UTC
Permalink
Post by Brian Gaff
Why did the industry go with those plugs? I'd have though the small sma
types were more robust for the lnb end.
Brian
SMA / SMB too small for CT100.

F-Connectors have some advantages: -

Basically one piece so easy to fit.
Cheap
No soldering.
But mainly - centre conductor of cable passes straight through into the socket reducing insertion loss.
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