How many barrel connectors are too many?

[tecman]

There have been a few installers to my home over the years and it seems each one adds a barrel connector. How many can a line have before PQ is affected? I am getting a couple HR21's installed soon and don't want him to add more barrels. There are between 3 and 5 on each line already.

Also, does it matter where the WB68 multiswitch is located in relationship to the dish? Moving it further away will be a hassle but will also remove most of the barrels.

[carl6]

I would want them to run a new coax if you already have three and five barrel connectors already.

However, just for testing purposes, I made a 400 foot run of coax to the dish using about a dozen barrel connectors along the way and it worked just fine. The problem is, over time they are potential locations for moisture to enter, corrosion, etc. which will cause future problems.

Carl

[lwilli201]

If you have quality connectors and quality barrel connectors and have them properly connected you could have many without any problem. I did not know it but there are different grades of barrel connectors. A splitter, diplexer and grounding blocks could also be included in the count.

[chefwong]

The different barrel connector that u generally want is th 3ghz rated....center is blue barrel connector type.

[veryoldschool]

The different barrel connector that u generally want is th 3ghz rated....center is blue barrel connector type.
FWIW: the blue is "only" rated to 2.5 GHz, while the [not needed] pink is rated to 3 GHz.

tecman, it's always good to limit the connectors to the minimum needed. As Carl posted, each connector is a point that can cause problems with the signal.

[tecman]

Thanks for the input guys. What about the location of the multiswitch? If I use the current location the multiswitch would be about 3 feet from the dish. If I move the dish, the switch would be about 70 feet from the dish. Will that distance matter?

[veryoldschool]

Thanks for the input guys. What about the location of the multiswitch? If I use the current location the multiswitch would be about 3 feet from the dish. If I move the dish, the switch would be about 70 feet from the dish. Will that distance matter?
Mine is about 60' from the dish. Since the Zinwell WB68 is passive, I think it comes down to the total cable length from dish to receiver. Also the Zinwell isn't rated for "wet" locations.

[Nick]

How many barrel connectors are too many? The fewer, the better. None would be ideal.

[chefwong]

I don't have any barrel connectors in any of my runs..but I'm curious for those who have measure it. Is the signal loss % the same # on a ground block as opposed to a barrel connector - if given the barrel connector is the same rating.

Thanks for the correction on the blue vs pink connector.
Eeekkkk - PINK.

What I have in my house is Lutron wallplates,switches that are all matching. What I generally do is leave the *neutral white* barrell connector on the plate and if a appliance is put there and a cable is going ontop of the connector....I then replace it with the colored ones. Heh Heh - the thought of a pink exposed barrel.

[Hansen]

FWIW: the blue is "only" rated to 2.5 GHz, while the [not needed] pink is rated to 3 GHz.

tecman, it's always good to limit the connectors to the minimum needed. As Carl posted, each connector is a point that can cause problems with the signal.

What's the rating on the black center barrel connectors?

[veryoldschool]

What's the rating on the black center barrel connectors?
That's a good question. I've never seen one. A "good" connector is more important than the color. The F-type connector is the same physical size and uses the same dielectric, so there really isn't any difference in any of them [frequency wise], whether they're "clear", white, blue, red, green, pink, [or now black].
If you really want to see a crappy connector, look at a Zinwell WB68, and yet they're "spec'd" for the new D* systems.