Ca anyone tell me what happend to my cable end?

mike65

Some background, the old F connector at the LNB end broke due to weathering, looking about for a quick fix I spotted a connector from my old cable tv setup and put that on. The signal was getting cranky lately I went to take a look at found the above. I have now swapped the cable ends so there is a different F at the LNB but I'll need to get some new ones which are of better quality to stand up to the Irish weather.

Tony

Looks like water has got in and corroded the copper over time.

mike65 wrote: »

Some background, the old F connector at the LNB end broke due to weathering, looking about for a quick fix I spotted a connector from my old cable tv setup and put that on. The signal was getting cranky lately I went to take a look at found the above. I have now swapped the cable ends so there is a different F at the LNB but I'll need to get some new ones which are of better quality to stand up to the Irish weather.

Peter Rhea

The connector you have pictured looks like a compression fitting: presumably you didn't actually fit it using the correct tool?

See how to fit & weatherproof a twist-on f-connector here: http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/fconn.htm

mike65

Nope I didn't have a compression-friendly tool. I do have some waterpoof gel somewhere I think, I'll slap that around the overlapping area with the cable. Actually I could use petroleum jelly couldn't I

Tony

I would not re fit the compression connector but rather get a twist on as Peter suggests

mike65 wrote: »

Nope I didn't have a compression-friendly tool. I do have some waterpoof gel somewhere I think, I'll slap that around the overlapping area with the cable. Actually I could use petroleum jelly couldn't I

mike65

Well the compression fit is now at the Skybox end so its not going to be a concern before I get a few new twist-ons.

Gerry Wicklow

mike65 wrote: »

... Actually I could use petroleum jelly couldn't I

I'm open to correction but I was always told petroleum jelly (Vaseline) conducts electricity and would thus short out the cable.

Liameter

I don't think petroleum jelly is conductive at first but it does oxidise so I wouldn't recommend it for long term use. Silicone grease is the correct gook.

I notice that the cable in the photo has aluminium foil. Use copper foil cable for least signal loss and best reliability.

Cesium Clock

The compression f connector in the picture are available in 2 types , indoor and outdoor,
It's possible an indoor one was fitted, it will not have an 'o' ring at the base of the threads.

For best results a cablecom compression 'f' should be fitted in dry conditions, matched to a quality cable, tightened correctly, no grease or tape will be required.

Liameter

It's possible that the LNB cap seal broke and moisture entered that way, in which case the LNB should be scrapped.

The bare copper wire should always have silicone grease applied, regardless, because bare copper oxidises in the presence of air. It's not sensible to suggest that "it won't oxidise very much" because you have no way of knowing how much will be too much. Unlike aluminium (where oxidisation is self-limiting) copper continues to oxidise indefinitely. It may take a month or 50 years but eventually it will be too much. Why gamble?

Ronnie Raygun

Cesium Clock wrote: »

It's possible an indoor one was fitted ...

Fitted? From the OP's story it seems like he just found one that had come off another cable, or he removed it himself & managed to push or twist it onto the sat. cable by hand.