Advice on new coaxial cable

[mikeisyou]

I've just bought a 100m run of WF125 coaxial cable (which is due to arrive Friday) to replace the existing coax cable which has cuts and joints from when the gardener cut through it. The distance between the dish and the receiver is around 40m so I'm hoping the new WF125 cable will increase the signal a bit more. The plan is once the new cable is laid I will put it through a hose pipe to protect it from the elements and gardeners. Also I have another issue which might be or might not be related, at the moment I only have one working receiver a Spiderbox 7000 which I think has a faulty tuner which displays a intermittent picture on certain channels (all ITV hd variations on Astra 2 and the current fta eurosport hd channels on hotbird), would this be because of a faulty cable? I have just replaced the LNB with an IBU so it is definitely not an issue with the LNB.

I was reading on another website that WF125 cables can put put excessive strain on the connector if directly plugged into a receiver, is this the case for all receivers and if so what is the advice on what to use. I have a spare hi isolation switch which I could use to pass through the signal.

Thanks

 

[rolfw]

WF125 is certainly a bit stiffer than WF100 or similar and the core is slightly larger, you can always use F connectors and female to female barrel adapter to connect a length of 1mm core cable at the receiver end to increase flexibility with little attenuation.

 

[Tururu]

Use other cables even with the thickest nucleus 1.33mm (10mm Ø), it is not a problem for the contactors of the receivers.
To be able to use normal "F" connectors and since it is thicker 8.10mm diameter Ø, a trick is to cut from a side part of the outer sleeve and thus be able to screw the connector, otherwise you can not, the "F" connectors have them for thin wires, those are not worth it.
If the old cable was bad, you will notice the change, it is like putting a new irrigation hose without "broken" where you lose water/signal.
I have 40 meters with a similar cable in the motorized and very good, very good results.
-------
Use otros cables incluso con el nucle mas gordo 1.33mm (10mm Ø), no es problema para los contactores de los receptores.
Para poder usar conectores "F" normales y dado que es mas gordo 8.10mm diametro, un truco es recortar de un lateral parte de la camisa externa y asi poder roscar el conector, de otra manera no podras, los conectores "F" los tienes para cable finos, esos no valen.
Si el cable viejo era malo, notaras el cambio, es como poner una nueva manguera de riego sin "rotos" por donde pierdes agua/señal.
Tengo 40 metros con un cable similar en la motorizada y muy bien, muy buenos resultados.

 

[mikeisyou]

Thanks for the replies,

Does anyone know how well the WF340 compares to the WF125?

 

[rolfw]

Very low loss, very expensive and requires specialist connectors and specialist tool. Complete overkill.

Attenuation (dB 100m):
10MHz: 0.6
50MHz: 1.3
100MHz: 1.9
230MHz: 2.9
300MHz: 3.4
470MHz: 4.3
600MHz: 4.8
860MHz: 6.0
1000MHz: 6.5
1350MHz: 7.7
1750MHz: 9.0
2150MHz: 10

 

[aceb]

Is this regular WF125 or did it have a suffix or mention of underground? It's normally cheaper than standard rolls but that saving comes at a cost because it's semi rigid so if it is you'll not be wanting to bend it around walls and door frames too much.

 

[mikeisyou]

Is this regular WF125 or did it have a suffix or mention of underground? It's normally cheaper than standard rolls but that saving comes at a cost because it's semi rigid so if it is you'll not be wanting to bend it around walls and door frames too much.

Seems like standard WF125 to me but I'm not an expert "Belden Webro Foam WF125 PE Coax Cable PE Black - CAI Approved 75 Ohms 100 Metres"

Very low loss, very expensive and requires specialist connectors and specialist tool. Complete overkill.

A friend of mine mentioned he had some left over, what connectors and tools are required?

 

[Tururu]

WF340.
15mm diameter cable, depending on which connectors, you need fixed wrenches to tighten (seriously), very used for cable networks in the street and small transmitters, the normal connectors are N, then adapter.
3.4mm diameter center wire, you need a connector that adapts to the type F of the receivers (adapter connectors for everything).
More than a partner who uses it, what he does is get to the house with the cable, then splices 10mm cable to move around the house, the other does not work, it bends very badly.
Work with 2 types, WF340 is more manageable, the green version (bambu) for its design is more rigid, had a truncheon in the car with a piece of 75cm.
Version RG213 + N, has less armor, rest.
Few connectors put on, it shows when welding the live and the tip.
----------
Cable de 15mm de diametro, segun que conectores, necesitas llaves fijas para apretar (en serio), muy utulizado para redes de cable en la calle y emisoras pequeñas, los conectores normales son N, luego adaptador.
Hilo central de 3.4mm de diametro, necesitas un conector que adapte al tipo F de los receptores (conectores adaptadores para todo).
Mas de un compañero que lo usa, lo que hace es llegar hasta la casa con el cable, entonces empalma cable de 10mm para moverte por la casa, el otro no vale, se dobla muy muy mal.
Trabaje con 2 tipos, WF340 es mas manejable, la version verde (bambu) por su diseño es mas rigido, tenia una porra en el coche con un trozo de 75cm.
Version RG213 +N, tiene menos blindajes, resto igual
Pocos conectores puso,, se nota al soldar el vivo y la punta.

Conector N.

 

[Terryl]

Is this regular WF125 or did it have a suffix or mention of underground? It's normally cheaper than standard rolls but that saving comes at a cost because it's semi rigid so if it is you'll not be wanting to bend it around walls and door frames too much.

Minimum bend radius for WF125 is about 30cm, if the coax entrance to the house is close by the equipment, then a ground block could be used outside and a more flexible coax can be run inside, this eliminates the problem of the center conductor stressing the inner insulation and causing an impedance mismatch.

 

[mikeisyou]

Thanks,

I've decided to go with the WF125, the cable came today and since the weather was good I took the opportunity to lay down the cable from the dish all the way through to the room where the receiver is. The only issue I'm having now is finding a connector that fits on the end of the WF125 cable, I bought 2 packets of CT125 thinking it would fit but its about a quarter of a mm too small. Does anyone know what f type connector is needed please.

 

[RustySpoons]

I use Ultraflex 10 here for various things, that's a bit bigger and heavier than RG213 but I use pig tails for anything other than a N-Type or PL259
WF125 won't cause you any issue on a F-Type connector on a device, it might make a very small sat box lift up but that's about it
you will have to get the right F-Types for that cable though, but that's already been mentioned.

 

[mikeisyou]

Use other cables even with the thickest nucleus 1.33mm (10mm Ø), it is not a problem for the contactors of the receivers.
To be able to use normal "F" connectors and since it is thicker 8.10mm diameter Ø, a trick is to cut from a side part of the outer sleeve and thus be able to screw the connector, otherwise you can not, the "F" connectors have them for thin wires, those are not worth it.

I've tried cutting the cable to make it thinner but I'm not really having much luck, I'll try again on Saturday when the weather is dryer. I've had a look various websites amazon, ebay but I can't find an adapter that will fit the WF125 cable.

 

[Terryl]

Thanks,

I've decided to go with the WF125, the cable came today and since the weather was good I took the opportunity to lay down the cable from the dish all the way through to the room where the receiver is. The only issue I'm having now is finding a connector that fits on the end of the WF125 cable, I bought 2 packets of CT125 thinking it would fit but its about a quarter of a mm too small. Does anyone know what f type connector is needed please.

http://www.systemsat.co.uk/f-type-connectors/crimp-on-f-connector-gold-for-wf125-type-cable.html

 

[mikeisyou]

http://www.systemsat.co.uk/f-type-connectors/crimp-on-f-connector-gold-for-wf125-type-cable.html

I've not used a crimp before, how hard can it be?

 

[aceb]

Or there's twist on

http://cpc.farnell.com/te-connectivity/5-1814822-7/plug-f-str-75r-ct125/dp/CN11109?ost=CN11109

 

[mikeisyou]

Or there's twist on

http://cpc.farnell.com/te-connectivity/5-1814822-7/plug-f-str-75r-ct125/dp/CN11109?ost=CN11109

I've ordered 2, thanks for your help

 

[mikeisyou]

Does anyone know if the CT125 F-Type connector is the same size as the WF125 F-Type connector?

 

[RustySpoons]

Does anyone know if the CT125 F-Type connector is the same size as the WF125 F-Type connector?

It should be, WF is the Webro code.

 

[mikeisyou]

It should be, WF is the Webro code.

Thats what I thought but the CT125 F-Plug I bought from Maplin ended up being too small. I wonder if I can use a hairdryer to shrink the cable.

 

[RustySpoons]

Thats what I thought but the CT125 F-Plug I bought from Maplin ended up being too small. I wonder if I can use a hairdryer to shrink the cable.

CT125/WF125 are both 8mm, not sure why they don't fit. The picture above you posted looks like a CT/WF100 F type.
Have you got the Maplin code?

Also if you need something quickly try RS, usually next day and no minimum order value