Pigtail lengths???

HawK802.11 · 02-22-2004

I've downloaded and built a few antennas from the net and now need to find out what the best lenght for a pigail should be. I have googled until my fingers ached and all I can find is sites or places that will sell me pre-made units. I would like to make them up myself. Do any of you know of any good sites that I've overlooked that can give me some information as to lengths? Thanks for any help.

Madhadder · 02-22-2004

I'm glad to hear your eager to get out and start stumbling with
your homebrew setup. However there is a small problem.

Unless you are an expert at micro-soldering or have the machine
to do it for you, a pigtale is something you defiently DO NOT want
to do yourself.

The small price you pay for a Premade pigtail covers a lot such as:
Parts/Labor/Testing/Retesting Etc. Etc.

Leave it to the Pro's head on over to FAB-CORP mention this site and get a discount.

As for the length, keep it as short as possible and always make sure
that it is made with the correct cable. Fab-Corp does this.

For lengths of 6in-3ft: use LMR100A
.....................4ft-20ft: use LMR400
Anything over 20ft. use LMR 600 or find a better place to mount
your Setup. Tell the boys at fab-corp how long you need it and
they will size the correct length/cable combo.

ZipperSeven · 02-22-2004

Just as an example I think that most of the pigtails that I have seen were between 4 and 6 inches long.

Madhadder is right tho...unless you are really hurtin for cash just get prebuilt one. I wouldnt even trust a pigtail that I built versus a Fab-Corp one.

Post some specs on your homebrew ones, if you don't mind. I'd be interested in seeing them.

Madhadder · 02-22-2004

Actually, the parts to make your own would prob. cost more
then if you just bought it already made.

Pigtails 4-6in are usually used to connect a card to a large
cable such as LMR400, cause there is no way to connect
anything higer than LMR100A to a card.

LMR400 and higher is really big/thick hard to bend stuff...

Quote:

Originally posted by ZipperSeven
Just as an example I think that most of the pigtails that I have seen were between 4 and 6 inches long.

Madhadder is right tho...unless you are really hurtin for cash just get prebuilt one. I wouldnt even trust a pigtail that I built versus a Fab-Corp one.

Post some specs on your homebrew ones, if you don't mind. I'd be interested in seeing them.

cst · 02-22-2004

Even working with LMR-400 is tough. I got ahold of a purpose made coax stripper for LMR-400, but I'll be damned if I can get a proper end on the cable for the N connector.

I have to pass the cable through a wall, and then put the N connector on, otherwise I would buy a premade jumper.

Anyone out there have any hints on how to work with this bigger stuff? I know small imperfections make large wave reflections at these frequencies....

Thanks.

Madhadder · 02-23-2004

Why not use 3-4ft. of LMR 100A to go thru the wall (Verry small hole required compaired to LMR400)

and but a premade LMR400 cable to connect to the other side.
Making sure to wrap the conx with some pvc tape and other
stuff to keep water out.

maui · 02-23-2004

Ditto on the Hadder's comment on pre-made pigtails,
I use to work with equipment that used that stuff, and had to train new troops on how correctly cut without nicking the center core, remove the proper lenght of insulator, connect/crimp or solder, then seal the whole package together, had a tube of Aloe, and some bandaids, and WHOLE mess of connectors and cables for them to play with, no one made one I would put on a piece of equipment till after a couple weeks.. And this was a shop with all the right tools..

Fab-Corp save the hassle. I do, granted it's challenge but I ain't come time for that kind of challenges anymore...

Maui

Thorn · 02-23-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by cst
Even working with LMR-400 is tough. I got ahold of a purpose made coax stripper for LMR-400, but I'll be damned if I can get a proper end on the cable for the N connector.

I have to pass the cable through a wall, and then put the N connector on, otherwise I would buy a premade jumper.

Anyone out there have any hints on how to work with this bigger stuff? I know small imperfections make large wave reflections at these frequencies....

Thanks.

Times Microwave makes the EZ series. I went to a seminar about 14 months back, where I played with them, and made some cables. Read about it here:
http://forums.netstumbler.com/showth...&threadid=4824

HawK802.11 · 02-23-2004

I've been playing around with some SMA connectors both mail and female connecting the two with RG 174 cable. The connections on both ends are soldered nicely and have a good grade of heat shrink on them. I've made on 19" pigtail but was wondering how long I can go before I degrade to uselessness?

wrzwaldo · 02-23-2004

This is a handy ref.

http://www.radio-active.net.au/web/80211/cable.html

and / or

http://www.ocarc.ca/coax.htm

HawK802.11 · 02-23-2004

Thanks wrzwaldo
Couple of great sites.

02-22-2004	#1 (permalink)
HawK802.11 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 6	Pigtail lengths??? I've downloaded and built a few antennas from the net and now need to find out what the best lenght for a pigail should be. I have googled until my fingers ached and all I can find is sites or places that will sell me pre-made units. I would like to make them up myself. Do any of you know of any good sites that I've overlooked that can give me some information as to lengths? Thanks for any help.

02-22-2004	#2 (permalink)
Madhadder General "Noob Basher" Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Munich, Germany Posts: 1,620	I'm glad to hear your eager to get out and start stumbling with your homebrew setup. However there is a small problem. Unless you are an expert at micro-soldering or have the machine to do it for you, a pigtale is something you defiently DO NOT want to do yourself. The small price you pay for a Premade pigtail covers a lot such as: Parts/Labor/Testing/Retesting Etc. Etc. Leave it to the Pro's head on over to FAB-CORP mention this site and get a discount. As for the length, keep it as short as possible and always make sure that it is made with the correct cable. Fab-Corp does this. For lengths of 6in-3ft: use LMR100A .....................4ft-20ft: use LMR400 Anything over 20ft. use LMR 600 or find a better place to mount your Setup. Tell the boys at fab-corp how long you need it and they will size the correct length/cable combo. __________________ Legends may sleep, but they never die!!!!

02-23-2004	#6 (permalink)
Madhadder General "Noob Basher" Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Munich, Germany Posts: 1,620	Why not use 3-4ft. of LMR 100A to go thru the wall (Verry small hole required compaired to LMR400) and but a premade LMR400 cable to connect to the other side. Making sure to wrap the conx with some pvc tape and other stuff to keep water out. __________________ Legends may sleep, but they never die!!!!

02-23-2004	#7 (permalink)
maui Umm Smells like kim chee Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: South Korea Posts: 139	Ditto on the Hadder's comment on pre-made pigtails, I use to work with equipment that used that stuff, and had to train new troops on how correctly cut without nicking the center core, remove the proper lenght of insulator, connect/crimp or solder, then seal the whole package together, had a tube of Aloe, and some bandaids, and WHOLE mess of connectors and cables for them to play with, no one made one I would put on a piece of equipment till after a couple weeks.. And this was a shop with all the right tools.. Fab-Corp save the hassle. I do, granted it's challenge but I ain't come time for that kind of challenges anymore... Maui __________________ Minister of the Church of WiFi Far Eastern Chapter NEMA

02-23-2004	#10 (permalink)
wrzwaldo I amuse you? Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 9,147	This is a handy ref. http://www.radio-active.net.au/web/80211/cable.html and / or http://www.ocarc.ca/coax.htm Last edited by wrzwaldo : 02-23-2004 at 11:46 AM.

02-22-2004	#5 (permalink)
cst Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 28	Even working with LMR-400 is tough. I got ahold of a purpose made coax stripper for LMR-400, but I'll be damned if I can get a proper end on the cable for the N connector. I have to pass the cable through a wall, and then put the N connector on, otherwise I would buy a premade jumper. Anyone out there have any hints on how to work with this bigger stuff? I know small imperfections make large wave reflections at these frequencies.... Thanks.

02-23-2004	#9 (permalink)
HawK802.11 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 6	I've been playing around with some SMA connectors both mail and female connecting the two with RG 174 cable. The connections on both ends are soldered nicely and have a good grade of heat shrink on them. I've made on 19" pigtail but was wondering how long I can go before I degrade to uselessness?

02-23-2004	#11 (permalink)
HawK802.11 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 6	Thanks wrzwaldo Couple of great sites.

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