OK, I have this problem...

[LeoG]

Well I'm getting setup for the big swap out.   Getting the Comet CA712EFC ready for deployment.

Wrapped the area where the antenna joins with self fusing tape.

And then marine grade heat shrink with the adhesive lining on the inside.

Then wrapped the N connector after wrenching it tight with the self fusing tape.

And then the heat shrink tubing again.  Put silicon where the aluminum tube joins the ground plane area before I put the mounting tube on.

Pretty stiff stuff.  I guess that's why they call it hard line.

And the completed assembly.

 

Should be going up sometime this week. 

 

[SteveShannon]

2 hours ago, LeoG said:

Well I'm getting setup for the big swap out.   Getting the Comet CA712EFC ready for deployment.

Wrapped the area where the antenna joins with self fusing tape.

And then marine grade heat shrink with the adhesive lining on the inside.

Then wrapped the N connector after wrenching it tight with the self fusing tape.

And then the heat shrink tubing again.  Put silicon where the aluminum tube joins the ground plane area before I put the mounting tube on.

Pretty stiff stuff.  I guess that's why they call it hard line.

And the completed assembly.

 

Should be going up sometime this week. 

 

Very thorough!  Nice job. 

[LeoG]

I tell you.. it better not leak.

[SteveShannon]

8 minutes ago, LeoG said:

I tell you.. it better not leak.

I don’t see how it could.  

[tcp2525]

2 hours ago, LeoG said:

Well I'm getting setup for the big swap out.   Getting the Comet CA712EFC ready for deployment.

Wrapped the area where the antenna joins with self fusing tape.

And then marine grade heat shrink with the adhesive lining on the inside.

Then wrapped the N connector after wrenching it tight with the self fusing tape.

And then the heat shrink tubing again.  Put silicon where the aluminum tube joins the ground plane area before I put the mounting tube on.

Pretty stiff stuff.  I guess that's why they call it hard line.

And the completed assembly.

 

Should be going up sometime this week. 

 

Now, ain't that purdy! Nice shiny new Heliax glimmering in the sunlight. That ought to give you an extra 2.5db gain. I can't wait till it's up and running. Good waterproofing job.

[GrouserPad]

Yeh buddy!!

[LeoG]

26 minutes ago, tcp2525 said:

Now, ain't that purdy! Nice shiny new Heliax glimmering in the sunlight. That ought to give you an extra 2.5db gain. I can't wait till it's up and running. Good waterproofing job.

It's only 25' so not much gain over the M&P Hyperflex 13.  So .5db vs .37dB.  The whole run is just over 80'.  If I did that it would be more.  1.60dB vs 1.18dB but still, nothing Earth shattering.

 

I waterproofed my original setup with two wraps of the self fusing and a outer wrap of electrical tape for the UV protection.  No idea how water got in.  Other than a crack in the fiberglass or something.

[WSHH887]

2 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

I don’t see how it could.  

And the Titanic was unsinkable.  

 

[WRUE951]

1 hour ago, LeoG said:

It's only 25' so not much gain over the M&P Hyperflex 13.  So .5db vs .37dB.  The whole run is just over 80'.  If I did that it would be more.  1.60dB vs 1.18dB but still, nothing Earth shattering.

 

I waterproofed my original setup with two wraps of the self fusing and a outer wrap of electrical tape for the UV protection.  No idea how water got in.  Other than a crack in the fiberglass or something.

I would believe the cracks in fiberglass radome theory, i've actually seen some poor quality radomes in my time.   When a bird can crash into one and kill it, you know the quality of these are in the dump somewhere.  

[LeoG]

Well that would be nice because I'd have a 25' pc of coax that's still good.

[WRUU653]

You can give your taped connections a coating of this stuff (Scotchkote), but it's kind off permanent so test everything first because your not going to want to try removing it.  Also I highly recommend wearing gloves while applying, it will stick to skin... and everything else. 

[tcp2525]

2 hours ago, WRUU653 said:

You can give your taped connections a coating of this stuff (Scotchkote), but it's kind off permanent so test everything first because your not going to want to try removing it.  Also I highly recommend wearing gloves while applying, it will stick to skin... and everything else. 

Man, you guys are going extreme. Next you'll attempt to put a condom on a pachyderm. Just wrap it with good quality 3M electrical tape and be done with. I have wrapped with that stuff and it's still working after 30 years. You can get rolls of 2" wide from your local utility worker for free, just ask.