Joining Antenna Cables (Again)
Hi Folks
I know that we talked about extending antenna cables not that long ago,
but I don't think that we resolved how the cables should be joined
other than that the type of soldered splice I was proposing was not a
good thing.
I've decided to run the indoor sections on RG6, since that's what I've
got. I also have a couple of splitters with power pass-through that are
rated up to 1.8GHz - these have F connectors on them.
As there don't appear to be any MCX to F or BNC or SMB to F or BNC
adapters available, I'm still puzzling how to hook this up.
All I can think of is to have either:
-
A metal box with a bulkhead SMB connector on one end and a bulkhead
BNC or F connnector on the other or: -
A metal box containing a PCB with the two appropriate connectors at
either end of the PCB, a single trace linking the two centres and the
rest of the board being ground.
I know that I'm doing a mix'n'match of impedances, but comments from the
previous thread indicated to me that this shouldn't cause any real
problems, even if it is a 'dirty hack'.
Cheers
M
--
Matthew Smith
Smiffytech - Technology Consulting & Web Application Development
Business: http://www.smiffytech.com/
Personal: http://www.smiffysplace.com/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/smiffy
At 3:06 PM +1030 3/25/08, Matthew Smith wrote:
Hi Folks
As there don't appear to be any MCX to F or BNC or SMB to F or BNC
adapters available, I'm still puzzling how to hook this up.
Matthew,
I missed the thread about adapters, but this stuff is readily available.
I just googled mcx bnc adapter and found this little pigtail cable
for $20. The opposite gender version is shown lower on the same page.
http://www.navsphere.com/product_info.php?products_id=1023
Radio Shack used to sell F to BNC adapters; I have a few in a drawer.
SMB to BNC adapters also exist. But you can make those. I have
purchased the corresponding connectors from Digikey and used a short
length of RG188 cable to make an adapter from whatever to whatever
else.
--
--David Forbes, Tucson, AZ
http://www.cathodecorner.com/
Matthew Smith wrote:
Hi Folks
I know that we talked about extending antenna cables not that long ago,
but I don't think that we resolved how the cables should be joined
other than that the type of soldered splice I was proposing was not a
good thing.
I've decided to run the indoor sections on RG6, since that's what I've
got. I also have a couple of splitters with power pass-through that are
rated up to 1.8GHz - these have F connectors on them.
As there don't appear to be any MCX to F or BNC or SMB to F or BNC
adapters available, I'm still puzzling how to hook this up.
All I can think of is to have either:
-
A metal box with a bulkhead SMB connector on one end and a bulkhead
BNC or F connnector on the other or: -
A metal box containing a PCB with the two appropriate connectors at
either end of the PCB, a single trace linking the two centres and the
rest of the board being ground.
I know that I'm doing a mix'n'match of impedances, but comments from the
previous thread indicated to me that this shouldn't cause any real
problems, even if it is a 'dirty hack'.
Cheers
M
Matt
Using a small length of low loss coax to connect between the 2
connectors is virtually essential.
This will have lower loss than most PCB substrates.
The connectors in question can in turn be mounted on a plate or box wall.
Bruce
Quoth David Forbes at 2008-03-25 15:26...
I missed the thread about adapters, but this stuff is readily available.
I just googled mcx bnc adapter and found this little pigtail cable
for $20. The opposite gender version is shown lower on the same page.
http://www.navsphere.com/product_info.php?products_id=1023
Radio Shack used to sell F to BNC adapters; I have a few in a drawer.
SMB to BNC adapters also exist. But you can make those. I have
purchased the corresponding connectors from Digikey and used a short
length of RG188 cable to make an adapter from whatever to whatever
else.
Looks like I'll just have to get the stuff in from the USA like
everything else - I was just looking at vendors here in Australia.
Cheers
M
--
Matthew Smith
Smiffytech - Technology Consulting & Web Application Development
Business: http://www.smiffytech.com/
Personal: http://www.smiffysplace.com/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/smiffy
Matthew Smith wrote:
Hi Folks
I know that we talked about extending antenna cables not that long ago,
but I don't think that we resolved how the cables should be joined
other than that the type of soldered splice I was proposing was not a
good thing.
I've decided to run the indoor sections on RG6, since that's what I've
got. I also have a couple of splitters with power pass-through that are
rated up to 1.8GHz - these have F connectors on them.
As there don't appear to be any MCX to F or BNC or SMB to F or BNC
adapters available, I'm still puzzling how to hook this up.
All I can think of is to have either:
-
A metal box with a bulkhead SMB connector on one end and a bulkhead
BNC or F connnector on the other or: -
A metal box containing a PCB with the two appropriate connectors at
either end of the PCB, a single trace linking the two centres and the
rest of the board being ground.
I know that I'm doing a mix'n'match of impedances, but comments from the
previous thread indicated to me that this shouldn't cause any real
problems, even if it is a 'dirty hack'.
Cheers
M
Matt
F to BMC adapters are available both in BNC male to F female and F male
to BNC female.
Bruce
Matthew Smith wrote:
Quoth David Forbes at 2008-03-25 15:26...
I missed the thread about adapters, but this stuff is readily available.
I just googled mcx bnc adapter and found this little pigtail cable
for $20. The opposite gender version is shown lower on the same page.
http://www.navsphere.com/product_info.php?products_id=1023
Radio Shack used to sell F to BNC adapters; I have a few in a drawer.
SMB to BNC adapters also exist. But you can make those. I have
purchased the corresponding connectors from Digikey and used a short
length of RG188 cable to make an adapter from whatever to whatever
else.
Looks like I'll just have to get the stuff in from the USA like
everything else - I was just looking at vendors here in Australia.
Cheers
M
Matt
Try RS components.
Bruce
Quoth Bruce Griffiths at 2008-03-25 15:36...
F to BMC adapters are available both in BNC male to F female and F male
to BNC female.
Looks like BNC connectors will be able to bridge the gaps, in
conjunction with those connectors.
If I chop the ends off the existing antenna leads, solder on BNC
connectors (don't know that I'll get crimped down to that tiny cable
size), put a BNC connector on the RG6, then just use a BNC to BNC
adapter. That gets me my down-lead. Then I can terminate the other end
with an F connector to go into the splitter.
I can then use a BNC bulkhead socket on the box containing the actual
GPS module.
That means that only the flylead that plugs into the module itself will
have an SMB or MCX (depending on module) connector.
Makes it all a lot easier to handle, even if RG6 isn't the most flexible
thing in the world.
Thanks for your input on this.
Cheers
M
--
Matthew Smith
Smiffytech - Technology Consulting & Web Application Development
Business: http://www.smiffytech.com/
Personal: http://www.smiffysplace.com/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/smiffy