RBM wrote:
"Nate Nagel" wrote in message
...
Hi,

since it's not possible to work outside today (thanks Hanna!) I gathered
up all the cable stuff I'd gathered in preparation to install a cable
outlet in the living room. Before I got started I wanted to make sure
that I'd be able to terminate the cable. Well, I can't - I'm missing some
sort of trick I guess. I'm using Philips RG-6 quad shield, Philips
weatherproof connectors (I bought those because I suspect that I will be
running cable outside eventually) and the stripper that came with a cheap
regular cable tool set. I can strip the cables OK but I can't seem to
push the connectors onto the cable at all. I have tried both the Philips
connectors and the generic connectors that came with the cheap tool set.
It's like the little round tubular bit in the connector just won't slide
under the braid in the cable. Any suggestions? IS there another tool
that grips the cable and can force the connector on?

thanks

nate

I used to use twist on connectors, but none are approved by any cable
company, as they loosen up and short out to easily. The only approved
connectors are compression type, which is not to be confused with crimping
connectors. All of this has nothing to do with your particular problem,
which is that "quad shield" uses a different connector than dual or triple
shield. The garden variety of screw on connector is probably for dual shield
. You can probably get it on if you cut one layer of shield off, but then
we'll have to call you Rube


Exactly, twist on connectors are what you use if you you don't like
doing an install and forget job the first time. As you noted snap seals
are standard practice for cable companies and they aren't noted for
applying extra effort but they know what it costs to repair bad
connections.

They don't short out but typically develop poor connections. A good
example is where my neighbor works. He has been managing the facilities
of a local company that has a bunch of stores, mini marts and gas
stations. Prior to him they had installed camera and recorder systems.
All the equipment was good stuff except someone cut corners by using the
twist on connectors. Some of the locations had 30 cameras. His staff was
constantly responding to failed camera reports which always turned out
to be a twist on connector that developed a poor connection just through
thermal cycling. He hired a wiring contractor to just go through each
location and replace the twist ons with snap seals. The ironic part is
that the snap seals are less expensive than the twist on connectors. You
can practically tow a car with a snap seal because of how well they grip
the cable.

Along the same lines we had a lot of network issues at a location that
had fiber between the buildings and couldn't figure out what it was.
Suspecting bad terminations we hired someone to come in and they found
that although the connectors looked the same someone had cut corners and
used some "easy to use" type that were held in place by a crimp. So
whenever there were temperature swings the glass moved enough to degrade
the connection. Standard connectors use a tiny drop of epoxy which
prevent that and are actually cheaper.