Tidying Shotgun cabling

funkey_monkey

Hi,

I'm looking to tidy up some shotgun cabling that exist from a multiswitch. Is it a no-no to bend sat cable to 90deg or how much of a radius can you have on the corner?

Image of setup attached.

Thanks.

Ger Roe

A 90 degree bend would be severe, although it would be more serious for transmission cable, than receiving.

The principle of coax is that the centre conductor is separated from the shield by a very specific distance, throughout the cable length. Causing a kink will change that distance at a point and affect the overall impedance, although as said, it's more an issue for transmission, than reception.

Generally, try to keep bending to a minimum and certainly not resulting in a visible kink to the outer shield covering. A quick google will show some info on bend radius, a lot of it is theory for perfect conditions, but if it looks tight, it's probably too tight.

funkey_monkey

Thought as much. Can't really see how to tidy it up without causing some compression somewhere.
Looks awful though.

Booms

Move the multiswitch higher and to the left to take up most of the slack/have a better curve and then clip the cable in place with that curve, no sharp turns?

Johnboy1951

Maybe something like this would help the worst of them .......

http://sat-planet.ie/f-type-right-angle-90-degree-connector-adapter-plug

and here also

https://www.freetv.ie/right-angle-f-type-adapter/

You might also be able to source 45 degree adapters .......

Alun

It's hard to see the multiswitch in a wider context there, and no idea what way is up and which down, but could you not just rotate the multiswitch by 90 degrees to avoid the bends?

funkey_monkey

Alun wrote: »

It's hard to see the multiswitch in a wider context there, and no idea what way is up and which down, but could you not just rotate the multiswitch by 90 degrees to avoid the bends?

The input feeds from the top would then need to go through 90deg. I'd have to increase the opening at the top and then get 45deg connectors to get them to align. TBH - I'd also prefer to keep the current orientation of the switch.
With the outputs being shotgun they are more difficult to handle. The inputs are singles, a bit more easy to work with.

It cannot be moved higher - the photo is deceptive. It is already quite close to the top and the input feeds already need to bend inwards to get through the access gap. I can't go up any more as it will just be too awkward to screw/unscrew the cables.

Would adding 90deg/45 deg connectors not just increase losses in the cabling?

Johnboy1951

funkey_monkey wrote: »

The input feeds from the top would then need to go through 90deg. I'd have to increase the opening at the top and then get 45deg connectors to get them to align. TBH - I'd also prefer to keep the current orientation of the switch.
With the outputs being shotgun they are more difficult to handle. The inputs are singles, a bit more easy to work with.

It cannot be moved higher - the photo is deceptive. It is already quite close to the top and the input feeds already need to bend inwards to get through the access gap. I can't go up any more as it will just be too awkward to screw/unscrew the cables.

Would adding 90deg/45 deg connectors not just increase losses in the cabling?

Not appreciably so.

Darando

Would moving and rotating the brush plate to below the switch help if possible? Maybe use a blanking plate to cover the existing hole?

funkey_monkey

Darando wrote: »

Would moving and rotating the brush plate to below the switch help if possible? Maybe use a blanking plate to cover the existing hole?

That might be an idea. It does look awful at the minute the way it is. I'll take another look into that - it might not be so easy though as the consumer unit is directly below.

funkey_monkey

Anyone know where I can get 45 degree f connector joint?
Looks like mounting it vertically it's the optimal solution, but will only work if I can get the cables down from the top neatly. Thought about 90 degree connector joints, but i would have to use small lengths of cabling to step out each of the switch inputs. Will look sh1te that way.

Johnboy1951

funkey_monkey wrote: »

Anyone know where I can get 45 degree f connector joint?
....

Maybe something like these?

https://www.amazon.com/RF-design-Antenna-Connector-Fatshark/dp/B076VFHX9N/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=%2B%2245+degree%22+F-Type&qid=1609185711&sr=8-14

https://www.amazon.com/RF-coaxial-adapter-RP-SMA-female/dp/B071D4KZ3D/ref=sr_1_17?dchild=1&keywords=%2B%2245+degree%22+F-Type&qid=1609185711&sr=8-17

funkey_monkey

Unfortunately they don't ship here.
Might try Ali express.

Elvis Hammond

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Maybe something like these?

https://www.amazon.com/RF-design-Antenna-Connector-Fatshark/dp/B076VFHX9N/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=%2B%2245+degree%22+F-Type&qid=1609185711&sr=8-14

https://www.amazon.com/RF-coaxial-adapter-RP-SMA-female/dp/B071D4KZ3D/ref=sr_1_17?dchild=1&keywords=%2B%2245+degree%22+F-Type&qid=1609185711&sr=8-17

'Something like', maybe, but those are SMA connectors.

funkey_monkey

Elvis Hammond wrote: »

'Something like', maybe, but those are SMA connectors.

Just noticed that!
Looks like 45degree f-type connectors don't exist.

Just read this:
https://www.dbstalk.com/community/index.php?threads/45-degree-coax-connectors.221657/

That's enough Internet for one night...