Hello Gents,

What kind of cable is used for the antenna? Also, anyone know of the Rat Shack part number for the N connectors?

I need to connect 2 building that are .5 miles from one another and both roofs are visible to each other.


thanks

/sk1f1r3

The people at Rat Shack are usually clueless about the N connectors, unless you find one who is a Ham, or otherwise knows his stuff. Ask them to look in the "Archer Professional Catalog." They can then order it from the store, and have it shipped direct to your house. I got 4 panel mount N females for about $12, including shipping. Took about 5 days. And they're real Ampernol's, not some no-name brand.

Cheers,
Thorn

I also ended up ordering from the Radio Shlock web site, as I couldn't find any good, cheap local or online source for the N connectors.

Seems like in a city the size of Chicago, there'd be at least one good stocking parts store for these sort of common items?

In the cgo area you may be able to find the connectors at Anixter cable. Otherwise, I have found finding N connectors relatively easy if you go to a local electronics part store. Generally, they are happy to order the connector if they do not have it.
As a general rule...I do not use Rat Shack. Their marketing is awful, their staff is clueless, and their prices are outragious.

By the way - can you please post the RS part #?

Thanks!

N Female Panel Solder-Type Receptacle
$4.04 Brand: Sandmartin
Cat.#: 910-0608 Model: N309
N Jack Panel Solder-Type Receptacle


http://www.radioshack.com/category.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_ 005_003_001_005&Page=2

Thanks guys,

Now the cable. I need the cable. Cable number?

/thanks

Generally, you are probably best of with LMR400, however, rg-58 will work fine.(Although it is a little lossy)
Rat Shack should have rg58 in stock. They used...back in the day.

"N" connectors are the best of a bad lot. They're still lossy, but present a lower impedance "hump" in the line than Type UHF's or BNC's.

Among the best things you could do, if you want a nice job on assembling the N to your cable, is to carry the cable you are planning to use into a real crackerjack electronics distributor or wholesaler, with a live body at the counter who has actually soldered N connectors; the "pin" of an "N" male has to be selected for the diameter of the cable to which you will be soldering it.

Wrong size pin, more loss (due to impedance discontinuities)at the connector. And, we have NO RF power to waste and NO excess Receive sensitivity at 2.4 gHz with these little dinkus cards...

(Don't forget heat-shrink tubing, while you're at you local Electronics Emporium)

This is a twice monthly task in the Radio/Server Room aboard my Tanker (EVERYTHING aboard ship is an N or a BNC). The first 5 you do will make you crazy. After that, it's like rolling a joint...you can do it in the dark, with one hand.

The Amphenol brand connector will have good instructions inside the plastic envelope, as will the Harris. Lacking that, run to the library, check out whichever edition of THE RADIO AMATEUR'S HANDBOOK they have in stock, and photocopy the instructions for soldering an N in the back of the book. Don't bother buying the HANDBOOK just for that info, as it's pretty pricey.

Doing N's is NOTHING like putting PL-259's on RG-58/U for a CB rig. But, once you master it, you'll walk taller, you car will go faster on less gas, and pretty girls will want to bear your children.

All this applies to the MALE "N." The Chassis-mount FEMALE "N" is a No Brainer.

Personally, I just buy the cable/pigtails already made up.
Life is too short to solder connectors on My Off Time.

"I'm sure I'd be MUCH more concerned if I weren't so heavily medicated!"

yes it's not a lie
the cable junction is REALLY important if you have not a 70 % quality link (test before)
The coax quality is very important (lenghts bigger than 6 feets )
Another way to do interconections : direct welding (but you need a surgeon diplom) lol !!
(config : second hand aironet 350 with a broken mmcx in use ----> teflon metal jacket coax welded directly to the PCMCIA board to a Ag N female connector
JaiZuss is still alive