Coax Tool Info

[topflight70]

This is a question not only from myself, but on behalf of my office.

We are looking for some coax tools to make our own custom cables using RG6
cable. These would be terminated with either BNC or RCA adapters.

Aside from a cutter and stripper, what tools would you recommend for this
job? Should we go with crimp or compression fittings? We definitely want
quality tools that will last for years to come and won't work only with one
particular manufacturer's oddball pieces that won't be available two years
from now.

Durability, flexibility, and longevity are the traits that we're looking
for.

What products could you advise?

[RobertE]

This is a question not only from myself, but on behalf of my office.

We are looking for some coax tools to make our own custom cables using RG6
cable. These would be terminated with either BNC or RCA adapters.

Aside from a cutter and stripper, what tools would you recommend for this
job? Should we go with crimp or compression fittings? We definitely want
quality tools that will last for years to come and won't work only with one
particular manufacturer's oddball pieces that won't be available two years
from now.

Durability, flexibility, and longevity are the traits that we're looking
for.

What products could you advise?

Stay far, far away from crimps. Compression is the only way to go. If you will be doing work for DirecTv and/or Dish, you will fail a quality check with crimps.

Personally, I like this compression tool http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=SGCATSNS
Decent price and well built.

If you have room in your budget, buy a couple different models to field test, see what you and your guys prefer. You may buy the best tool in the world, but if your guys hate how it works, then it's not so great.

[yogi]

We use Cable Pro CPLCCT-SLM for compression. It the one the techs prefer.

[joesigg]

ome Depot has compression tool and fittings. Works fine!

[BattleZone]

Most compression tools will NOT work with RCA and BNC compression connectors. Only a handful of them will. I use one of the cheapest ones because I do so few, and it is annoying to use, but it does the job.

http://www.nulime.com/img/id191475/n/F-Rca-Bnc-Compression-Combination-Tool.jpg

If I did more of them, I'd probably use this one:

http://www.neobits.com/images/jd250/ICACSCT01U.jpg

It's about $90 though.

[armophob]

As suggested above. Go the cheap route. Home depot or Lowes has the Compression kit or separate. Makes the job so much easier and cleaner.

[Bill Broderick]

You can't beat Monoprice for quality at a very low price. This compression tool (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10509&cs_id=1050902&p_id=3356&seq=1&format=2)will work with F, BNC, RCA, right angled and keystone module compression connectors. Best of all, it costs less than $30.

[MONSTERMAN]

If you want to go cheap, a tool that looks decent with decent looking compression fittings is at harborfreight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=95862

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=96204

I ended up using everything from IDEAL industries, found at local HOMEDEPOT or LOWES:

http://www.idealindustries.com/products/datacomm/tools/compression_tools.jsp

http://www.idealindustries.com/products/datacomm/tools/connector_tools.jsp

http://www.idealindustries.com/products/datacomm/connectors/universal_comp_connectors.jsp