VHF aerial connection

[OceanSprint]

Sorry, this is a trivial one

I am fitting RG58 cable to my masthead aerial. The cable has a stranded core, not a solid one. The aerial needs the core inserted down a narrow tube, which seems more suited to solid core cable.

Shall a coat the stranded core in solder to turn it into a solid core before inserting?

Mast going up soon, and i have no way of testing it until it is up, and then not accessible easily.

Thanks

 

[Salty John]

Yes, with a stranded core it is good practice to tin the core first so you don't get a strand failing to go into the centre pin and causing a short.
Stranded core is good because it is flexible and less likely to break under constant movement.

 

[OceanSprint]

Yes, with a stranded core it is good practice to tin the core first so you don't get a strand failing to go into the centre pin and causing a short.
Stranded core is good because it is flexible and less likely to break under constant movement.

Many thanks john, and thanks for all your previous advice, always very useful.

With a danger of changing the subject, i am about to use my rig tension meter i got from you. I'm a bit nervous, and would have preferred to find a rigger, but needs must ..... All the best, and thanks again for your advice, and useful web site

 

[nigelmercier]

I'd be inclined to go the whole way and solder the end of the wire into the tube.

 

[Salty John]

I'd be inclined to go the whole way and solder the end of the wire into the tube.

Yes, certainly, you must solder the wire into the tube. The initial tinning is just to be sure no strands escape whilst the wire is being pushed into the tube.

 

[OceanSprint]

Yes, certainly, you must solder the wire into the tube. The initial tinning is just to be sure no strands escape whilst the wire is being pushed into the tube.

Sorry, but how do I do that when the tube is buried high up and inside a very narrow connector.

The solid core wire I removed just had a bend put in it so it pressed hard against the side of the inner tube.

Thanks Bill

 

[nigelmercier]

Sorry, but how do I do that when the tube is buried high up and inside a very narrow connector...

Normally they are open at the end.

 

[William_H]

Normally they are open at the end.

I think he is concerned about the cable connection at the antenna end. I don't know but it is likely that jaws that grip the wire without soldering although if you could get a soldering iron in there it would be best. good luck olewill

 

[OceanSprint]

Yes, it is getting the wire into the masthead aerial i am concerned with. Sorry , use of word "connector" caused confusion.

I don't see how i can solder centre core in, then push in rest of cable fixed in sealing end piece? Will provide photo when i next get to boat.

 

[Salty John]

Ah! With a sickening thud the penny drops. Sorry, I assumed you were attempting to solder a PL259 onto coaxial cable.

 

[nigelmercier]

Ah! With a sickening thud the penny drops. Sorry, I assumed you were attempting to solder a PL259 onto coaxial cable.

So did I. Sounds like the antenna should be replaced with one that has a SO259 on it.

 

[rob2]

I've run into quite a nmber of antennas which have push fit cables. When fitting them, I'm never convinced that the design is a good one, yet they always seem to work OK!

Rob.

 

[maby]

So did I. Sounds like the antenna should be replaced with one that has a SO259 on it.

I would agree with that - at least unless the OP is very comfortable shinning up and down his mast to fix noisy connections... The trouble with non-soldered antenna connections is that the owner may not even be aware that there is a problem emerging - if the connection is noisy with the radio on transmit, you can be generating interference that spreads out across adjacent channels.