OK, I have this problem...

[LeoG]

8 minutes ago, tcp2525 said:

Not worth the effort. Toss the antenna if it has an SO-239, and like you said, use hardline with a N connector. Buy an antenna with an N connector and use proper install and weatherproofing techniques and forget about it. Too much wasted energy and time screwing with the stuff you have now.

That had proper weatherproofing on it.  As best I could do.  It was mostly done on the ground and then the antenna attached to the mast was inserted into the lower section of mast that was existing.  Don't know how to do a better job without encapsulating the entire thing is rubber.  But yes, if I have to go up there to strip it down new coax and antenna will be on the list.  This was only up there since about June.

 

Could also be infiltration at the lightning arrestor.  But that is an N fitting on both sides.  Still wrapped to death.

[SteveShannon]

17 minutes ago, LeoG said:

That had proper weatherproofing on it.  As best I could do.  It was mostly done on the ground and then the antenna attached to the mast was inserted into the lower section of mast that was existing.  Don't know how to do a better job without encapsulating the entire thing is rubber.  But yes, if I have to go up there to strip it down new coax and antenna will be on the list.  This was only up there since about June.

 

Could also be infiltration at the lightning arrestor.  But that is an N fitting on both sides.  Still wrapped to death.

I wouldn’t start throwing things away. I’m  not even sure that what you did is related to the problem. You might end up replacing the cable or part of it but you can sell the antenna or change the connector at the feed point. 

[WRXL702]

N Type Connectors Are Not Sealed, Nor Are They Sealed Any Better Than Any Other RF Connector Used In An Outside Application.

Grease On The Threads On A Coax Connector Has Nothing To Do With Preventing Moisture Ingress. They Are A Running Thread, Not A Pipe Thread, Therefore A Grease Compound Is Not The Solution For Proper Outside RF Connector Waterproofing.

Proper Wrapping 1st With A Quality Butyl Tape From The Bottom Up & Then Covering With A Quality Electrical Tape, Again From The Bottom Up Will Ensure Proper Moisture Ingress To An Outside RF Connector.  

[tcp2525]

1 hour ago, LeoG said:

That had proper weatherproofing on it.  As best I could do.  It was mostly done on the ground and then the antenna attached to the mast was inserted into the lower section of mast that was existing.  Don't know how to do a better job without encapsulating the entire thing is rubber.  But yes, if I have to go up there to strip it down new coax and antenna will be on the list.  This was only up there since about June.

 

Could also be infiltration at the lightning arrestor.  But that is an N fitting on both sides.  Still wrapped to death.

Understand. As others have mentioned, the SO-239 isn't sealed like the N connector. And no matter good a job you think you did with weatherproofing, it is still very vulnerable to water. In my opinion, if a UHF antenna has an SO-239 it is crap. I would be curious to as what you find when you pull it down and inspect. Good luck with it.

Oh, and I never did find out what antenna you're using. It's possible the antenna radome is compromised.

[tcp2525]

9 minutes ago, WRXL702 said:

N Type Connectors Are Not Sealed, Nor Are They Sealed Any Better Than Any Other RF Connector Used In An Outside Application.

Grease On The Threads On A Coax Connector Has Nothing To Do With Preventing Moisture Ingress. They Are A Running Thread, Not A Pipe Thread, Therefore A Grease Compound Is Not The Solution For Proper Outside RF Connector Waterproofing.

Proper Wrapping 1st With A Quality Butyl Tape From The Bottom Up & Then Covering With A Quality Electrical Tape, Again From The Bottom Up Will Ensure Proper Moisture Ingress To An Outside RF Connector.  

Have you ever seen an N connector? If not, you might want to reevaluate that statement. I'll take a properly installed naked N connector over a totally wrapped PL-259/SO-239 any day of the week in the harshest weather.

[WRXL702]

N Type Connectors Are Not Sealed Any Better Then A UHF Connector - Neither Are Sealed To Outside Elements.....

Amusing Statement  - N Connectors Were Utilized In My 800 MHz Business Repeater Station, Along With My (2) Currant Large Footprint GMRS Repeater Stations, The Osceola 600 (Indiana) & Niles 725 (Michigan).

So In Answer To Your Question, Yes I Have Seen An N Type Connector Or Two, & Know There Limitations For Outside Moisture Ingress........

 

 

[LeoG]

Sounds like it's back to Vaseline.  That STUF product doesn't seem to exist anymore.  Found it on ebay but it's 20 tubes not for individual sale.

[SteveShannon]

26 minutes ago, WRXL702 said:

N Type Connectors Are Not Sealed Any Better Then A UHF Connector - Neither Are Sealed To Outside Elements.....

Amusing Statement  - N Connectors Were Utilized In My 800 MHz Business Repeater Station, Along With My (2) Currant Large Footprint GMRS Repeater Stations, The Osceola 600 (Indiana) & Niles 725 (Michigan).

So In Answer To Your Question, Yes I Have Seen An N Type Connector Or Two, & Know There Limitations For Outside Moisture Ingress........

You’re wrong. From Amphenol, note the word “weatherproof”::

 

[WRXL702]

Or..... Back To More You Tube Book Smart & Street Stupid Professors & Vids........

Good Luck In Finding The Solution To Properly Wrapping / Weatherproofing Your Station Outdoor RF Connectors.

 

[tcp2525]

23 minutes ago, WRXL702 said:

N Type Connectors Are Not Sealed Any Better Then A UHF Connector - Neither Are Sealed To Outside Elements.....

Amusing Statement  - N Connectors Were Utilized In My 800 MHz Business Repeater Station, Along With My (2) Currant Large Footprint GMRS Repeater Stations, The Osceola 600 (Indiana) & Niles 725 (Michigan).

So In Answer To Your Question, Yes I Have Seen An N Type Connector Or Two, & Know There Limitations For Outside Moisture Ingress........

 

 

Interesting. I'm perplexed as I don't understand why the manufacturers wasted all the effort and materials to put a gasket that seals the two mating connectors. Had I known they lied to me and charged me more for an N connector I would have just made a Western Union splice in my coax and called it a day..

[tcp2525]

1 minute ago, WRXL702 said:

Or..... Back To More You Tube Book Smart & Street Stupid Professors & Vids........

Good Luck In Finding The Solution To Properly Wrapping / Weatherproofing Your Station Outdoor RF Connectors.

 

I think wrapping connectors is totally and utterly foolish when a healthy dab of bacon grease makes all my connections waterproof to 100m.

[SteveShannon]

Just now, tcp2525 said:

Interesting. I'm perplexed as I don't understand why the manufacturers wasted all the effort and materials to put a gasket that seals the two mating connectors. Had I known they lied to me and charged me more for an N connector I would have just made a Western Union splice in my coax and called it a day..

You’re right. Here’s the drawing from the data sheet (Amphenol website, not YouTube) and a list of the mil-spec for moisture resistance.:

 

[tcp2525]

1 minute ago, SteveShannon said:

You’re right. Here’s the drawing from the data sheet (Amphenol website, not YouTube) and a list of the mil-spec for moisture resistance.:

 

Yep! One can't dispute that. Also, I always follow my connector installs with a high quality heat shrink tubing with hot melt adhesive inside. Water never gets in my coax.

[WRXL702]

Mr Shannon - You Are Point Blank Wrong......

Re-Evaluate Your Research......

Again, As I Stated Yesterday On Another Forum Question, There Are Those That Will Consistently Argue There Point To Get The Last Word.

All Cell, Public Safety, Municipal & Commercial Radio Site System Installations - Wrap N Connectors For Moisture.....

I Can See Why, Among Other Things, WRKC935 Bailed On This Ridiculous Forum, As Is Mine After Tonight.

Too Many Book Smart, But Street Less Then Street Knowledgeable Folks Posting Ridiculous Opinions For New Users.

Good Luck To You All - Hope You Get In Your Last Word - Peace Out...........

[WRYZ926]

4 hours ago, LeoG said:

And how does this help me ?

 

 

Kidding, kidding.  You kids go out and have fun...

It may or may not help. But it is something to consider. I really haven't noticed much difference with my Comet GP-9 or CA-712EFC but I do see a change with the MFJ multi band vertical HF antenna when the temps get really low. The change in SWR on the MFJ is not as much as with the cobweb but still noticeable.

Food for thought.

 

[SteveShannon]

3 minutes ago, WRXL702 said:

Mr Shannon - You Are Point Blank Wrong......

Re-Evaluate Your Research......

Again, As I Stated Yesterday On Another Forum Question, There Are Those That Will Consistently Argue There Point To Get The Last Word.

All Cell, Public Safety, Municipal & Commercial Radio Site System Installations - Wrap N Connectors For Moisture.....

I Can See Why, Among Other Things, WRKC935 Bailed On This Ridiculous Forum, As Is Mine After Tonight.

Too Many Book Smart, But Street Less Then Street Knowledgeable Folks Posting Ridiculous Opinions For New Users.

Good Luck To You All - Hope You Get In Your Last Word - Peace Out...........

I don’t recall anyone suggesting they shouldn’t be wrapped, but Amphenol sells them as weatherproof and even has N connectors listed as suitable for extreme exposure.  https://www.amphenolrf.com/rf-connectors.html?applications=638350
 

[AdmiralCochrane]

Just like the threads of a flare nut not being the sealing surface I understand that the threads of a coax connector are not watertight seal areas, but I am of the persuasion that some greasy material in the middle of the connector short of hydraulic locking the mating surfaces from making contact is beneficial as water, can't occupy the same space that something else already occupies.  Water can easily displace gases like air, but has a much more difficult time displacing oil or grease.

[LeoG]

Well looking at a set of mating N connectors it looks like the mating surfaces are the flat area of the female and the rubber base of the male.  If you put a small coating of dielectric grease on the female flat mating surface it looks like the internal portion of the connector has an excellent seal from anything penetrating it.  The only ingress would be from the rear of the connector using capillary action into the fittings.  Water getting in through the threads should have no chance of getting inside the fitting if it has been tightened properly.

 

[warthog74]

Source of info: https://waterproved.com/definitions/

 

There. It’s settled. You’re welcome.

[SteveShannon]

12 hours ago, LeoG said:

Sounds like it's back to Vaseline.  That STUF product doesn't seem to exist anymore.  Found it on ebay but it's 20 tubes not for individual sale.

ARS still lists it for $8/tube.

https://amateurradiosupplies.com/products/stufsealant-stuf-dielectric-water-proofing-sealer

 

[nokones]

The Technician that installed my Repeater Station antenna wrapped the N connector with what appears to be electrical tape.

[LeoG]

7 hours ago, warthog74 said:

Source of info: https://waterproved.com/definitions/

 

There. It’s settled. You’re welcome.

Sounds like something from the clothing industry.

[LeoG]

2 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

ARS still lists it for $8/tube.

https://amateurradiosupplies.com/products/stufsealant-stuf-dielectric-water-proofing-sealer

 

I ordered it from there and the canceled my order and refunded my money.  Said they didn't have it in stock and nor could they get it.

[LeoG]

Hit 32º at 5:19 this morning and it's 8:30 and 36º currently in my backyard.  So plenty of time for any ice in my coax/connectors/antenna to liquify.  My SWR is at 2.08.  I don't have full quieting with my repeater currently and the Holyoke repeater is at 1/2 scale instead of full quieting like it was yesterday during the cold.  As always the other 2 repeaters are full quieting.

 

I'm starting to see a trend.

[LeoG]

And correction on my coax type.  I do have LMR400 at the shop, @50'.  But at the house I have M&P Hyperflex 13, @84'.  A 60' section to the lightning arrester and 24' from there to the antenna.  Lightning arrester is type N connectors.