Where do you get your supplies?

[jpitlick]

Just a general question to the installers on the forum. I am particularly interested in what brand of F connectors you use and where you get them. I am not an installer, but I like to make my own cables and do some of my own wiring. I got some F connectors, a coax stripper and compression fitting tool from monoprice.com, but the connectors feel cheap. The stripper and compression tool work great, though.

For those of you who are not independent, did you have to buy your signal meter or was that provided by your employer? I would like to get to the point where I can do my own installations; when I live in a house where I can access my dish. Not being an installer, I can't justify spending like $500 for a Birdog or similar device.

Thanks.

[dave29]

i'm not an installer, but...

i have an accutra III meter and use these connectors

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=EX6XL

[dave29]

oh yeah, those monoprice connectors are pretty cheap, but they will be fine for indoor cables

[jpitlick]

i'm not an installer, but...

i have an accutra III meter and use these connectors

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=EX6XL

oh yeah, those monoprice connectors are pretty cheap, but they will be fine for indoor cables

Thanks for the info.

I only use the monoprice connectors indoors. DirecTV replaced all of my outside connectors last time they upgraded my dish and I have to reason to mess with them.

[joe diamond]

Skywalker.com

They have an F connector that is .09 ea and $9.00 a bag of 100. These are not the compression fittings you will see used by DTV. These are .09 and the compression type are around .25 each.

I do fine with an old TV and an old IRD in my truck to tune everything. If DTV and their HSP folks want one of their employees to have a Birdog or similar they can issue one like the phone company.

Joe

[doctor j]

The PPC connectors referencer in dave29's post are the only compression connectors "approved " by Directv.

Snap n Seal or Thomas and Betts ( same thing ,different name)was a good connector used before PPC's became THE connector.

Doctor j

[Grentz]

I am not a Directv installer, but do home theater and other installs that sometimes require some coax work.

I just picked up some PPC EX6XL connectors on eBay for around $26 for 100 which seems to be a decent price compared to some of my private suppliers. I just use a data shark compression tool from Home Depot and it works great. For a stripper I use the yellow all in one stripper from monoprice, again works great and is only like $6.

[lamotte]

i am also not a installer but i also use the PPC EX6XL for my projects around the house. i also found a bag on ebay for about .34 with shipping and got a bag of 100. and have plenty left on hand to use as need later on

[urnote96]

I GET ALL MY PPC EX6XL's off of ebay for about 120-150 for a box of 20 bags...

[pressureman0]

I own all my own tool 2 meter 1 a super buddy (675 plus 80 for swm) 1 bird dog (400) I bought from Mastec when I was in house I get somethings from "Perfect 10" some from "Stat satellite" some from the sub company I work for they get it from Mastec. Where is it cheaper. The only fitting DTV lets us use is Ppc ex6el

[VOLBEAT]

Just a general question to the installers on the forum. I am particularly interested in what brand of F connectors you use and where you get them. I am not an installer, but I like to make my own cables and do some of my own wiring. I got some F connectors, a coax stripper and compression fitting tool from monoprice.com, but the connectors feel cheap. The stripper and compression tool work great, though.

For those of you who are not independent, did you have to buy your signal meter or was that provided by your employer? I would like to get to the point where I can do my own installations; when I live in a house where I can access my dish. Not being an installer, I can't justify spending like $500 for a Birdog or similar device.

Thanks.


I'm not an installer either, and I use the same connectors as the guy in post #2 (PPC EX6XL), and I've aimed my dish with the meter on the receiver, and got excellent numbers, so that is an option, if you're just going to aim it or peak it here and there. The fine folks here told me just how to do it, and it went perfect. Just something to keep in mind.

[David MacLeod]

I got ppc ex6x (not the l versions) for $5 a bag of 100 on ebay. built a small adapter for compression tool to adapt the length difference and it works perfect. some fittings I built, and I am NOT an installer, are on my ota antenna on a rotator. worked from -26 to 95 and lasted in 60 mph gusts ok.

[racermd]

Former 'installer' for Charter here. I used Snap 'n' Seal supplied by the company for a long time. Left that job (haven't looked back) and now use up a stash of PPC fittings everyone here is referencing. My 'supplier' is a buddy that worked at Comcast for a while and handed me a number of 100-pack bags since they were also company-supplied. Not that I condone that sort of thing, but I never asked for them. However, I wasn't about to turn down free consumables, either.

I picked up my own crimper tool from a local electrical supply shop. For those of you in the MSP area, look for AEI Electric on Hwy 55 in Golden Valley. I also buy my bulk cable from them, as well. Haven't been treated wrong there, yet. They might not have the cheapest prices, but there's something to be said for being available, local, and very helpful that makes it easier to pay a little extra for.

For a stripper, I still use the yellow things given to me by Charter those many years ago. I think I still have a few replacement blade cartridges, for it, too.