[tweaked]

Anyone know of a distributor or retailer who carries high end Belden cable in non-bulk quantities? I'm eventually going to replace my current cabling and move to an SWM setup once DTV offers a switch that will allow for proven, reliable OTA integration (one they'll support).

Once that happens, I'll be able to go from the 320' of cable I'm currently running (all cables combined) to just two lengths with a total that's less than 100.

I am looking for the best cable, sound's like Beldon's the brand.

 

[K4SMX]

Last 500' roll of Belden 1694a here came from Tri-state Electronic. That's the solid copper center conductor stuff. Bulk of course. Shorter lengths with connectors (?) are available from Blue Jeans Cable and Solid Signal.

 

[billcushman]

Belden 1694a is an extremely high performance RG6 cable. It has a solid copper center conductor and heavy copper near 100% coverage outer shield. It is 100% sweep tested to 3GHz. It is available in a plenum version if that is needed. You won't be disappointed in the performance of Belden 1694a.

 

[AntAltMike]

At those lengths, you don't benefit from using expensive cable.

 

[Herdfan]

At those lengths, you don't benefit from using expensive cable.

1694 is way overkill for satellite. Try Belden 1829BC if you want a colid copper center, otherwise 1829A for a CCS.

Note: I have 1829A in most of my runs since they were done before the solid copper center was recommended and have not any issues whatsoever. My local electrical supply house stocks 1829A, so you may have a local source.

 

[Johnnie5000]

We get Flooded Belden dual at the warehouse here. Stop an installer and ask if they would be willing to part with any.

 

[kiljoy]

I was looking at this which is sold by the foot. Is there a reason this is not suitable cable? Its number is 7916A.

Tony

 

[Johnnie5000]

I was looking at this which is sold by the foot. Is there a reason this is not suitable cable? Its number is 7916A.

Tony

Looks good. Solid copper center conductor, 3ghz swept tested, 75 ohms. Thats what you need.
Just make sure you get some good quad-shield compression connectors to go with it. Don't damage the cable by using crimp on connectors.

 

[kiljoy]

Looks good. Solid copper center conductor, 3ghz swept tested, 75 ohms. Thats what you need.
Just make sure you get some good quad-shield compression connectors to go with it. Don't damage the cable by using crimp on connectors.

Since I've got the ear of the experts, I may as well show you what I'm looking at in that area.

These were the connectors I was looking at, Thomas & Betts quad-shield compression fittings. I don't have a compression tool, so I was thinking this compression tool at monoprice. I have some strippers, can't find a link or a pic, that peel off the jacket and cut the shielding at the appropriate lengths in stages as you squeeze them. I imagine they'd work for quad-shield cable?

Is there anything I need to know going in about doing this myself? I've never worked with compression fittings, and I know cable installation is a huge component to the reliability of the HR2x series.

I'd let Bluegrass Satellite handle the lion's share of the install work, but they pointed my neighbor's dish right at a large tree (about five feet away) and told him that intermittent signal strength in the 60s was normal. I figure the less they touch, the better.

Tony

 

[2dogz]

Take a look at the thread "compression tool help" from 4 or 5 days ago in this forum.

 

[Tiger62]

Since I've got the ear of the experts, I may as well show you what I'm looking at in that area.

These were the connectors I was looking at, Thomas & Betts quad-shield compression fittings. I don't have a compression tool, so I was thinking this compression tool at monoprice. I have some strippers, can't find a link or a pic, that peel off the jacket and cut the shielding at the appropriate lengths in stages as you squeeze them. I imagine they'd work for quad-shield cable?

Is there anything I need to know going in about doing this myself? I've never worked with compression fittings, and I know cable installation is a huge component to the reliability of the HR2x series.

I'd let Bluegrass Satellite handle the lion's share of the install work, but they pointed my neighbor's dish right at a large tree (about five feet away) and told him that intermittent signal strength in the 60s was normal. I figure the less they touch, the better.

Tony

The Belden 7916A cable takes regular RG-6 connectors, NOT QUAD. I've used 1000' of this cable and it's very good. You may have to adjust your stripper to cut the outer layer of foil, since this cable is not much larger than regular RG-6 but not as large as RG-6Quad.

 

[kiljoy]

The Belden 7916A cable takes regular RG-6 connectors, NOT QUAD. I've used 1000' of this cable and it's very good. You may have to adjust your stripper to cut the outer layer of foil, since this cable is not much larger than regular RG-6 but not as large as RG-6Quad.

Good to know, thanks! So the Thomas & Betts blue RG-6 connector then?

2dogz, that's exactly the kind of information I need, thank you. I'd been reading this forum regularly hoping to see something pretty much like that, I don't know how I didn't see it.

Tony

 

[2dogz]

Good to know, thanks! So the Thomas & Betts blue RG-6 connector then?

2dogz, that's exactly the kind of information I need, thank you. I'd been reading this forum regularly hoping to see something pretty much like that, I don't know how I didn't see it.

Tony

I don't believe the T&B connectors are on D* Approved Materials List, if that matters to you. Look at the PPC EX6XL connector, for one, that I believe is among the blessed ones.

There are a bunch of folks here that are installers and can fill you in on which they are suppose to use.

 

[flipptyfloppity]

The thing in that link is not a compression tool.

Just go get the WireShark coax-only compression tool from Home Depot, the one you squeeze like a stapler. It's $15 IIRC. It works well with virtually all compression fittings.

 

[RobertE]

I don't believe the T&B connectors are on D* Approved Materials List, if that matters to you. Look at the PPC EX6XL connector, for one, that I believe is among the blessed ones.

There are a bunch of folks here that are installers and can fill you in on which they are suppose to use.

The PPC EX6XL is the ONLY approved connector.

 

[bman542]

The PPC EX6XL is the ONLY approved connector.

And will the Belden 7916A cable work with those connectors? I hope so thats what I have and will installing this week. :grin:

bill

 

[RobertE]

And will the Belden 7916A cable work with those connectors? I hope so thats what I have and will installing this week. :grin:

bill

Yes. The EX6XL is a decent connector. Not trying to sound like a salesman for them, but it fits a very wide range of cable brands and types from plain jane dual shield RG6 to high end extra thick quad shield RG6. You can even get them with built in weather boots.

 

[kiljoy]

One last question and I think I'm done pestering you guys on the ins and outs of wiring.

I've found your recommended materials:

Wire, Belden 7916A Quad-shield, 3GHz swept for $0.39/foot.
Compression fittings, PPC EX6XL, the only approved connector for DirecTV installations for $17.50/50 count bag.
Compression tool, the Datashark 70014 as recommended by flippityfloppity above. It says "crimp tool" but then it also says "for compression fittings". Just bad copy?

My final question is dealing with my Leviton Quickport wallplates. I've asked before and veryoldschool assured me that what's there is probably fine, but I thought hey if I'm doing this, I'll do it right. Plus there's been a few threads where the barrel connectors were the issue, so I'm going to cover all bases.

It took me a while to figure out how to disassemble the existing Quickport barrel connectors but I got it done. My problem is the barrel connector that came out looks like this, but the ones I need look like this. Now I know I can buy the nut that tightens the back end of the barrel connector to the Quickport module separately, but what about that fat middle section? Is there a one that has a thin middle hex like the one in the first picture that is 3GHz rated? Does anyone know of anywhere that sells the 3GHz barrels along with the nut?

Thanks for all your help,

Tony

 

[flipptyfloppity]

That 70014 "crimp tool" can't crimp anything. It only does compression fittings. As you mention, it's just bad copy.

I would not sweat the "3GHz" barrels. My system has had at time up to 3 "unrated" barrels in succession and it makes no difference. It at this time has Leviton Quickport wallplates with the stock barrels in them, although at the moment the other barrels are removed (just because of how the config is right now).

Even if you do try to switch the barrels, they all use the same nuts and lugs, so you don't need to buy new nuts, just take the nuts off the Leviton barrels and put them on the "3GHz" barrels. The thicker center lug still has the same hex shape and diameter (7/16") so if you were to swap out the barrels, the extra lug width would just protrude out the front of the Quickport plate a little bit. You won't even notice it.

Wow, HomeTech solutions is right nearby, they're good folks.

 

[kiljoy]

That 70014 "crimp tool" can't crimp anything. It only does compression fittings. As you mention, it's just bad copy.

I would not sweat the "3GHz" barrels. My system has had at time up to 3 "unrated" barrels in succession and it makes no difference. It at this time has Leviton Quickport wallplates with the stock barrels in them, although at the moment the other barrels are removed (just because of how the config is right now).

Even if you do try to switch the barrels, they all use the same nuts and lugs, so you don't need to buy new nuts, just take the nuts off the Leviton barrels and put them on the "3GHz" barrels. The thicker center lug still has the same hex shape and diameter (7/16") so if you were to swap out the barrels, the extra lug width would just protrude out the front of the Quickport plate a little bit. You won't even notice it.

Wow, HomeTech solutions is right nearby, they're good folks.

I would use the same nuts, but the Leviton Quickports don't have nuts, they have a ring that's been flattened against the long end. Removal procedure is to beat the hell out of it with a hammer. I found everything I need minus the tool at Solid Signal. I think I'm going to go with an SWM setup for rewiring ease given that the entry costs are about the same.

Thanks a lot for all the help, you've gotten me through about half of my installation worries so far!

Tony