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proper way to splice RG400 pigtails?

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hotwheels

Joined: 01 Jun 2007
Posts: 240

Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 1:00 am Post subject: proper way to splice RG400 pigtails?

Is there a proper way to splice RG400 coax? This may have been discussed in the Aeroelectric docs, but I don't recall seeing it.



RG400 pigtails were connected to the back of my radio stack and made it easy to work with coax runs under the panel. At the time BNC crimped connectors were used for splicing and they seem to work fine for the moment. However, I'm concerned that BNC may not offer the most reliable choice for the long term, especially when connecting coax runs that keep one flying in the right direction... 



I ran across an application that used SMA connectors... Better choice? If so, where can those be sourced for a reasonable price?



Thanks,

Jay

RV-10 Phase 1

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billp(at)wwpc.com
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 6:31 am Post subject: proper way to splice RG400 pigtails?

BNC connectors are a very nice constant impedance connector. The good 

ones are silver plated and I have seen ones that are still serviceable 

after half a century of aviation use. TNC is another choice and those 

connectors are available for RG400 as crimped connectors too. SMA 

connectors were developed specifically for higher frequencies with lower 

power handling capability in tighter spaces. If you have a connection 

for a receive-only (like a VOR antenna, GPS antenna, XM antenna) then 

SMA would work for that. I don't think SMA is mechanically superior to 

the BNC/TNC connectors. I wouldn't use an SMA connector on a transmit 

antenna (comm, xponder, etc).



SMA connectors are probably going to be more expensive because they 

aren't as much of a commodity item as the BNC is. Pasternack is who I 

get connectors from. They probably are not the cheapest but they only 

carry good quality connectors and they have everything and I don't have 

to spend hours searching. http://www.pasternack.com/



You can expect to pay about $10 a piece for RG400 SMA Male connectors.



Bill



   On 7/17/13 2:00 AM, hotwheels wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Is there a proper way to splice RG400 coax? This may have been discussed in the Aeroelectric docs, but I don't recall seeing it.



 RG400 pigtails were connected to the back of my radio stack and made it easy to work with coax runs under the panel. At the time BNC crimped connectors were used for splicing and they seem to work fine for the moment. However, I'm concerned that BNC may not offer the most reliable choice for the long term, especially when connecting coax runs that keep one flying in the right direction...



 I ran across an application that used SMA connectors... Better choice? If so, where can those be sourced for a reasonable price?



 Thanks,

 Jay

 RV-10 Phase 1





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=404822#404822

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nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 7:07 am Post subject: proper way to splice RG400 pigtails?

At 04:00 AM 7/17/2013, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  



Is there a proper way to splice RG400 coax? This may have been 

discussed in the Aeroelectric docs, but I don't recall seeing it.



RG400 pigtails were connected to the back of my radio stack and made 

it easy to work with coax runs under the panel. At the time BNC 

crimped connectors were used for splicing and they seem to work fine 

for the moment. However, I'm concerned that BNC may not offer the 

most reliable choice for the long term, especially when connecting 

coax runs that keep one flying in the right direction...



I ran across an application that used SMA connectors... Better 

choice? If so, where can those be sourced for a reasonable price?


	


    Either one is just fine. I use SMA under heat shrink

    to splice salvaged cut-pieces for longer finished

    lengths.



    I can sell you a pair of BNC or SMA cable male

    and female connectors. The BNC are easier to

    install tho. Unless you have some practice with

    the SMA I'll suggest that BNC is your highest

    order probability for success.



   Bob . . .

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nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
Guest

Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 10:10 am Post subject: proper way to splice RG400 pigtails?

 	  Quote: 	
		  >I ran across an application that used SMA connectors... Better 

>choice? If so, where can those be sourced for a reasonable price?



    Either one is just fine. I use SMA under heat shrink

    to splice salvaged cut-pieces for longer finished

    lengths.


	


     When extending an existing coax, consider the

     value of trimming the original cable back some

     distance to move the splice to a more convenient

     location.



     Things can be pretty busy behind the panel and

     adding another mated pair of connectors only

     6" away from one of your radios may not be the

     most attractive location.



     Cutting some of the original cable back before

     splicing on the extension offers an opportunity

     to put the spice in a less obtrusive location.



   Bob . . .

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