[Arubaflower]

I just purchased some DS6Q (green) Digicon quad connectors. I am about to also buy some Belden 7916a RG6 quad coax. However, I just read a post that said the 7916a cable is slightly smaller than typical quad and it uses standard Digicon connectors not quad connectors.

Is this correct? Will the quad connectors not work at all?

I purchased the connectors from Ebay so returning isn't an option. I am hoping I am not stuck with 100 unusable quad connectors and then have to spend more money on standard connectors.

 

[Mertzen]

Why spend extra money on quad anyway. Cell phone tower on the roof? Ten microwaves in the basement?
D* doesn't require it, nor does E*.

 

[Arubaflower]

Why spend extra money on quad anyway. Cell phone tower on the roof? Ten microwaves in the basement?
D* doesn't require it, nor does E*.

Because I need to run new solid copper lines anyway so they might as well be quad. Moreover, quad is the recommended cable from what I've have read from people here.

 

[2dogz]

I just purchased some DS6Q (green) Digicon quad connectors. I am about to also buy some Belden 7916a RG6 quad coax. However, I just read a post that said the 7916a cable is slightly smaller than typical quad and it uses standard Digicon connectors not quad connectors.

Is this correct? Will the quad connectors not work at all?

I too remember that post about 7916 quad being thinner. Happen to have a new box of 7916 and both blue and green Digicon connector so I decided to give it a try. Well, this quad cable is no wimpy stuff. It was tough to get the green quad connector on completely. It was impossible to get the regular blue connector on, even with pliers. My recomendation, use the green quad connectors.

Maybe that post was thinking of Belden 7915a Duobond Plus cable which is a high performance tri shield and a bit thinner.

I imagine people that recommend you use quad shield are folks wiring their own house. With the price difference of one or two thousand feet being minimal, they say what the hell, go for the good stuff, even if it is usually overkill. Installers use thousands of feet a week, so those extra pennies per foot start to add up into real money and they use just what is required (except maybe at their own homes ).

 

[Johnnie5000]

It was impossible to get the regular blue connector on, even with pliers.

Try using a flaring tool instead. Better for the cable than pliers and using the flaring tool almost feels like you're cheating.

 

[2dogz]

Try using a flaring tool instead. Better for the cable than pliers and using the flaring tool almost feels like you're cheating.

Tried flaring. Thickness of cable plus the braid folded back is just too much. You'd have to trim some of the braid off and that would be cheating.

Thanks for link to handy dandy tool. I like the threaded female end. Don't use pliers, tears up connector. Just the curse word factor, burning fingertips, and it was only an experiment.

 

[Arubaflower]

I too remember that post about 7916 quad being thinner. Happen to have a new box of 7916 and both blue and green Digicon connector so I decided to give it a try. Well, this quad cable is no wimpy stuff. It was tough to get the green quad connector on completely. It was impossible to get the regular blue connector on, even with pliers. My recomendation, use the green quad connectors.

Maybe that post was thinking of Belden 7915a Duobond Plus cable which is a high performance tri shield and a bit thinner.

I imagine people that recommend you use quad shield are folks wiring their own house. With the price difference of one or two thousand feet being minimal, they say what the hell, go for the good stuff, even if it is usually overkill. Installers use thousands of feet a week, so those extra pennies per foot start to add up into real money and they use just what is required (except maybe at their own homes ).

Thank you so very much for checking on that for me.

If it was difficult for you to get the green on I fear what my father and I are up against. But I went ahead and ordered the 7916a cable and some Cable-Pro installation tools: Linear Compression Tool CP LCCT -1-P10 compression, coax stripper, and flaring tool. I think we're set to give it a go.

Yes, it seems it is the do-it-yourselfers that recommend the good stuff. But as I told my father last night when he was leaning towards letting the installers handle it, I'd rather spend money to buy the good stuff than pay an installer put in standard stuff. For his last cable run that was put in less than two years ago, my Dad paid $70 and all the installer did was diplex into an old RG-59 antenna line, run the cable behind the refrigerator and crimp a connector to the end. No new RG6 line. No compression connector. He followed the path of least resistance without concern for quality. Now every time the refrigerator compressor comes on (the TV is in the kitchen), there is interference on the TV. For less than $70, I just purchased 500ft of the 7916a RG6 solid copper quad and can replace all the cable runs for what we paid for that crappy one. Money better spent IMO--assuming we are successful getting those pesky connectors on.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Tiger62]

I too remember that post about 7916 quad being thinner. Maybe that post was thinking of Belden 7915a Duobond Plus cable which is a high performance tri shield and a bit thinner.

You may be referring to a post that I made. I THOUGHT that the 500' of cable that I had installed was the 7916a, and that's why I made the comment about using regular RG-6 connectors. When I just now read this thread, I decided to go and look at the box of remaining cable and it is indeed 7915a. Sorry I posted inaccurate information. The 7915a uses RG-6 connectors. I have no experience with the 7916a cable.

 

[K4SMX]

Because I need to run new solid copper lines anyway so they might as well be quad. Moreover, quad is the recommended cable from what I've have read from people here.

Please see the Blue Jeans Cable article:

Video Cable Shielding--What Works, Why, and the Myth of "Quad-Shield" Cables

 

[2dogz]

If it was difficult for you to get the green on I fear what my father and I are up against.

Aaaah , wasn't that tough. Twist and push, twist and push. Good tight fit, what you want. I was putzing with the cut depth on the stripper, being my first try using this cable. Have to do a few to gets things down right, then you're off flying.

 

[RobertE]

I recommend quad shield cable as much as I recommend Monster cables. In other words NEVER.

Unless you live under a transmission tower, you are just wasting money.

 

[dave29]

I recommend quad shield cable as much as I recommend Monster cables. In other words NEVER.

Unless you live under a transmission tower, you are just wasting money.

:lol: agreed:lol:

 

[Arubaflower]

Aaaah , wasn't that tough. Twist and push, twist and push. Good tight fit, what you want. I was putzing with the cut depth on the stripper, being my first try using this cable. Have to do a few to gets things down right, then you're off flying.

This Digicon installation guide makes it look deceptively easy. Even still, I purchased 100 of those green suckers even though we really only need about 20. My Dad said, "What in the world (he used another word) are we going to do with 100 connectors?!" I anticipated we'd go through a few until we got it right. Dad said, "Not that darn (he used another word) many." After now hearing they can be a little difficult to put on, I definitely feel more comfortable knowing I have 80 extra to play with. :lol:

 

[billcushman]

In post #9, K4SMX has posted an excellent article giving the basics of good shielding. Please read that article carefully to clearly understand it. Quad shield is a cheap and fairly good solution for many applications. Superb shielding costs a lot more money. Belden 1694A is a cable with a 95% copper braid plus a double wrap of foil. This cable costs a lot more because it contains a lot of copper by weight, but you get what you pay for. It is not a Monster cable type high profit item. The best shielding costs. Markertek has the best price I have seen on cut lengths of Belden 1694A. For most installations it is not necessary, but if you are in a situation where RF ingress gives problems, spend the money and solve the problem. Be sure and use Black cable for outdoor use. Other colors are OK for indoor applications.

 

[Arubaflower]

I recommend quad shield cable as much as I recommend Monster cables. In other words NEVER.

Unless you live under a transmission tower, you are just wasting money.

I know all about $100 Monster cables and prefer my $2 ones which work just fine. But good gracious guys. I hardly think at $65 for 500ft of quad amounts to highway robbery such that it is that big of a deal to buy. I compared the prices and there isn't that big of a price difference from what I've seen.

 

[Arubaflower]

Be sure and use Black cable for outdoor use. Other colors are OK for indoor applications.

Why is Black colored cable better for outdoor use?

 

[BattleZone]

This Digicon installation guide makes it look deceptively easy.

The key for installing connectors on QC is that you need to adjust your stripper tool to cut through the outer 2 layers of shield, so that the portion you pull back against the outer jacket is just the inner braid. Most folks don't realize this, and try and try to stuff the connector on with far too much shield material getting in the way.

It takes some adjustment to get the tool set just right, and takes a bit of time getting the jacket pulled back neatly, but it is what has to happen if you want to get those connectors installed correctly. It still takes me about twice as long to install a connector on QS than on standard DS cable.

 

[2dogz]

The key for installing connectors on QC is that you need to adjust your stripper tool to cut through the outer 2 layers of shield, so that the portion you pull back against the outer jacket is just the inner braid. Most folks don't realize this, and try and try to stuff the connector on with far too much shield material getting in the way.

It takes some adjustment to get the tool set just right, and takes a bit of time getting the jacket pulled back neatly, but it is what has to happen if you want to get those connectors installed correctly. It still takes me about twice as long to install a connector on QS than on standard DS cable.

Good tip. Voice of experience here.

 

[Arubaflower]

The key for installing connectors on QC is that you need to adjust your stripper tool to cut through the outer 2 layers of shield, so that the portion you pull back against the outer jacket is just the inner braid. Most folks don't realize this, and try and try to stuff the connector on with far too much shield material getting in the way.

It takes some adjustment to get the tool set just right, and takes a bit of time getting the jacket pulled back neatly, but it is what has to happen if you want to get those connectors installed correctly. It still takes me about twice as long to install a connector on QS than on standard DS cable.

Thanks for pointing that out. I bought the Cable Pro stripper because it said it comes precalibrated. I didn't notice that the calibrations are for standard not quad cable. Now I see Step 5 is what you are talking about with regard to quad cable. Alrighty then. No telling how many of the 100 connectors we are going to have left after all of this. Thank goodness for bulk quantities.

 

[dave29]

I know all about $100 Monster cables and prefer my $2 ones which work just fine. But good gracious guys. I hardly think at $65 for 500ft of quad amounts to highway robbery such that it is that big of a deal to buy. I compared the prices and there isn't that big of a price difference from what I've seen.

its not so much the price, it that in my opinion rg6quad is unnecesary. btw, i pay $58 for 1000ft of standard rg6 scc