connecting coaxial for a Digital Yacht DTV100 antenna

UK-WOOZY

UK-WOOZY

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The coax which is hard wired into the antenna is too short to reach the end of my mast let along to go inside the boat. I tried extending it with and extension cable with female connector but the plug on the end of the antennas cable broke apart as i tightened it. So not sure what the best plug is to put onto it and how to extend it without any signal loss? Mast is 34ft long and is currently laying down. thanks
 
UK-WOOZY said:
The coax which is hard wired into the antenna is too short to reach the end of my mast let along to go inside the boat. I tried extending it with and extension cable with female connector but the plug on the end of the antennas cable broke apart as i tightened it. So not sure what the best plug is to put onto it and how to extend it without any signal loss? Mast is 34ft long and is currently laying down. thanks
Click to expand...

I have used PL259 connectors on both cables with a PL258 to join them https://www.asap-supplies.com/v-tronix-aerial-and-cable-connector-716503

I have also soldered cables together to extend them. It's a bit fiddly, dissect the cable, join the inner conductor with a tiny amount of solder, cover it with some of the original insulation, stuck in place with some superglue or epoxy. Then, join the shield back together, again using a little solder. Next use some of the original outer insulation and finish off with some glue lined heatshrink.

Methods vary according to needs, but both work well enough and give a suitably low VSWR.
 
UK-WOOZY said:
thats what i thought, too large also to go through the masts trunking. so the one you linked to at ASAP will be fine for TV RG6 cable? The antenna manual said needs to be 75ohm

https://digitalyachtamerica.com/download/dtv100-installation-handbook-v1-01-pdf/

thank you
Click to expand...

Ooops, i missed the TV bit, assuming VHF aerial. The soldering method above still applies, but the connectors would be wrong. You can use F connectors, if they'll go through the mast ducting :https://www.screwfix.com/p/philex-coaxial-f-plug-pack-of-10/17061 Available at plenty of other places. I'd still want to put some glue lined heat shrink over it, as it's in the mast.
 
i bought those exact connectors from screwfix yesterday after the original one broke off, there was no obvious way of connecting it to the cable, does it screw onto the center core but then what about the stranded outer wire... no instructions, ridiculous. EDIT: youtubed videos for the f connector, ok i see now but the antennas cable diameter is wider that the socket diameter....also how would i connect it to the extension cable, Digital YAcht advised against another connecter, they said to use two connectors, male and female, but i cannot find suitable ones. very very annoying!

from Digital Yacht about the VHF connector-


"This is a 50 ohm type and will not work. Anything solderless will cause issues - it weeks the connection will fail

Nick Heyes
Digital Yacht Ltd
US OFFICE TEL 978 277 1234
UK DIRECT LINE + 44 207 100 9116
www.digitalyachtamerica.com"
 
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UK-WOOZY said:
i bought those exact connectors from screwfix yesterday after the original one broke off, there was no obvious way of connecting it to the cable, does it screw onto the center core but then what about the stranded outer wire... no instructions, ridiculous. EDIT: youtubed videos for the f connector, ok i see now but the antennas cable diameter is wider that the socket diameter....also how would i connect it to the extension cable, Digital YAcht advised against another connecter, they said to use two connectors, male and female, but i cannot find suitable ones. very very annoying!

from Digital Yacht about the VHF connector-


"This is a 50 ohm type and will not work. Anything solderless will cause issues - it weeks the connection will fail

Nick Heyes
Digital Yacht Ltd
US OFFICE TEL 978 277 1234
UK DIRECT LINE + 44 207 100 9116
www.digitalyachtamerica.com"
Click to expand...

Those F connectors should fit RG6 cable, you screw one to each cable then use the connector to join the cables https://www.screwfix.com/p/labgear-f-plug-to-f-plugs-pack-of-10/95730

These are the fittings that Shakespeare supply with their marine antennas. As i said though, i'd want to make it waterproof.

As for digital yachts comments, the VHF connector isn't the correct one, it will be bigger than the TV connector they suggested too, but to claim that solderless will fail in weeks is nonsense.
 
UK-WOOZY said:
as mentioned, it was advised against the connector, i want a female to male plug
Click to expand...

The connector is designed for TV aerials and is the type fitted to Sky installations. I can't think of anything more suitable than something that's sole purpose for existing is the job that you want it to do. Sorry i can't be of more help.
 
lw395 said:
I would probably use a 75ohm variant of a BNC connector.
This kind of thing, but you need to select one suitable for the cable size you have:
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/prod...VQflRCh0INAJGEAQYASABEgI9e_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Properly assembled, it should keep the innards of the coax dry, helping give it a long life.
Click to expand...

I did think about BNC connectors, but i don't think they are any smaller than the TV plug Digital Yacht suggested.

Bit bizarre that Digital Yacht recommended the TV plugs yet advised against F connectors, especially when Shakespeare supply their ariels with F connectors.
 
Most F connectors are pretty awful things which have no strength and zero attempt at waterproofing.
When I used them to extend the satellite cable at home, I covered them with glue-lined heatshrink.
If the issue is size of the connector, then you can get smaller 75ohm connectors like mcx, but only in smaller cable sizes.

If we are talking about an 'active antenna' with an amp built in, then you can get away with a bit more inthe down lead.
 
as i wouldnt be able to get to the connectors once the mast is restepped i asked Digital Yacht if they can fit a longer coax to it, they said yes for £45 plus parts. So im going to do that, have one continuous cable into the boat from antenna. Working out much much more than i planned to spend and more of a nuisance than anticipated. I dont even watch TV myself i am adding it for crew and when my neices are onboard.
 
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