RG213U repair - Splice etc?

alt · 25 January 2022, 19:57

Hi all,

(Mods please move if in wrong forum).

So just found out that an RG213U cable we use (fixed VHF) has been cut clean in half, half way along the cable. The good news is that it's indoors and plenty of slack for a repair.

I was hoping to find a simple 'splice kit' or similar, but no such luck?

What would be the best thing do to here? Make off 2 make connections and use a female coupler? (I can heat-shrink after to protect). I'm looking for the most simple solution, but if I have to to the above and solder etc. then so be it.

I'm guessing i'd be using PL258 (female coupler) and PL259 (male connector)??

Many thanks!

spartacus · 26 January 2022, 06:09

What you're suggesting will work, including soldering the plug ends, but given breaks in VHF cable are to avoided as it potentially introduces issues, in terms of broadcast reception and range, wouldn't it just be prudent to replace the cable?

alt · 26 January 2022, 09:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartacus

What you're suggesting will work, including soldering the plug ends, but given breaks in VHF cable are to avoided as it potentially introduces issues, in terms of broadcast reception and range, wouldn't it just be prudent to replace the cable?

Ideally, yes. But it's a 100ft cable and the antenna is on the top of a building!

Cheers for the info.

jwalker · 26 January 2022, 11:36

Join it by soldering. It's been discussed many times on ribnet, if you search you'll likely find a how to.

jeffstevens763@g · 26 January 2022, 18:23

RS might have connectors

Metz Antenna Man · 27 January 2022, 12:44

[QUOTE=alt;848299]Ideally, yes. But it's a 100ft cable and the antenna is on the top of a building!

Personally I'd fit a new run of unbroken cable. As Spartacus says introducing joints will reduce performance and therefore you may miss that vital call. Why risk it. Its just over 30m of cable, so I'd just fit the new run. It might be a pain to do but not if your that unfortunate Sailor, sinking fast, who has just put out a Mayday call.

jwalker · 27 January 2022, 17:45

[QUOTE=Phil and Jane;848381]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alt

Ideally, yes. But it's a 100ft cable and the antenna is on the top of a building!

Personally I'd fit a new run of unbroken cable. As Spartacus says introducing joints will reduce performance and therefore you may miss that vital call. Why risk it. Its just over 30m of cable, so I'd just fit the new run. It might be a pain to do but not if your that unfortunate Sailor, sinking fast, who has just put out a Mayday call.

With respect Phil and Jane, that's just dopey thinking. A properly soldered joint will be perfectly fine. The whole of the boast"s electronics is made using soldered joints, there's no reason to think that solder will be less good on an antenna cable. In fact, lead/tin solder is sea water resistant that's why tinned cables are preferred. There's every likelyhood the antenna coax is already tinned cable too.

Method: Strip back the cut ends at the joint position for about 20mm each side.
Wipe the cable outer with solvent to be sure it's clean.
Fold back the screen strands out of the way.
Prepare two pieces of glue lined shrink sleeve one slightly shorter that the other but both about 70mm ish.
Strip back the plastic dielectric to about 8-10mm on both cable ends.
Strip the core cables to about 3mm and tin them leaving a wee blob of solder on each.
Steady one cable, a helper will be useful, bring the two ends together and solder the 3mm stubs together. If you're quick, which you should be, you can push the dielectric ends to butt to each other because the heat of the solder will melt them a little.
Wrap one turn of tape around the dielectric to steady that part.
Fold back the screen from one end to cover the joint, trim if necessary.
Fold back the screen from the other end to overlap the first.
Quicky do a wee solder connecting joint to a small patch of screen to ensure proper connectivity. One each side would be good to stabilize that part of the cable. The cable strands are very light and will solder pretty much instantly so no melting problem.
Check everything is good and shrink your sleaving into position, the short piece first.

Job done. It shouldn't take you more than 10 minutes.

jeffstevens763@g · 27 January 2022, 20:26

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/373787872...IaAgTvEALw_wcB

Don’t know if there’s a difference in cable size but should be able to sort if there is