digicom compression fittings in extreme cold

2033 Views 44 Replies 13 Participants Last post by rudeney, Oct 14, 2008

David MacLeod

Discussion Starter · Oct 12, 2008

anyone had experience with digicom fittings in extreme cold?
need to put a 3 foot jumper on my ota for the rotator, I have the following piece http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=DGCBL003
and am wondering how these do in up to -40 weather.
not going to be much movement, just slight angle changes as the ota is turned.
I've never dealt with any of these, they look ok but was wondering.

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BattleZone

· #2 · Oct 12, 2008

They are used by Comcast here, but I personally don't like them. The nylon compression piece will break easily if the metal band at the end slips off, which it does far too often. The nylon part also comes unlocked too easily. While they tend to have a "premium" reputation because of their high price, in my experience they are just above "junk."

I've used every kind of fitting out there, and IMO, nothing beats the PPC EX6-XL. I have never had one fail on me, and almost never see failures in the field (I've seen a few that were obviously compressed without being fully seated in the tool, so the compression ring was at an angle and didn't fully lock.) The thick brass lock ring on the back locks solidly and compresses the nylon gasket to form a perfect twin 360 seal ring. I don't use anything else anymore if I can help it.

David MacLeod

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 12, 2008

I was looking at some ppc brand on ebay, they were a lot cheaper than the digicoms and I wondered about them. I'll look closer at them, thanks.

David MacLeod

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 12, 2008

are the PPC EX6 (not EX 6L ) an ok fitting? I just bought a 100 for $20 including shipping vs $20 for 50 of the ex 6l ones.
thanks.

AntAltMike

· #5 · Oct 12, 2008

Most compression tools are not of the right length for the PPC EX6. With most tools, you'll have to put a couple of the tiny nuts that come with most F-81 barrel splices on the compression tool's anvil/post.

I sometimes use the PPC EX6 when I have to stuff the connections in a single gang electrical box.

If David MacLeod isn't in the installation business, then he will likely never use 50 of those connectors in his lifetime, so the extra fifty PPC-EX6s he cah get for the same price may not be of much use to him.

easy_e65

· #6 · Oct 12, 2008

thanks guys. I needed to get a kit, and this thread reminded me of such. Got the crimper, stripper and termination ends ppc ex6.

David MacLeod

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 12, 2008

I figure I'll break 10-15 of them seeing as I've never used them before.
I've got 200 feet of good rg6 that has some broken ends or an insulation tear in the middle, I'm going to make a bunch of 10 foot jumpers so the first 50 will be used pretty quick.

is the L just a designation for length?

BattleZone

· #8 · Oct 12, 2008

Here's the story:

The first compression F connectors were made by Thomas & Betts, and sold under the "Snap N Seal" name. These quickly became "the" standard in the cable industry, as they were much better than anything that came before.

PPC invented their own compression connector, the EX6, but their connector was shorter than the SNS connectors. PPC made their own compression tool that worked fine for their EX6, but was too short for other brands, which had started popping up. Most other brands adopted the length of the SNS as the "standard" compression connector length.

Cable companies really liked the PPC EX6 connectors, but refused to pay for their now "proprietary" tool, so they bought other brands instead. PPC reacted by releasing the "EX6-XL" version of their connector, which is the "standard" length and works with nearly all compression tools.

IMO, unless you know exactly what you are buying, you should NOT buy the plain EX6, as they will be difficult to get compressed properly unless you own a tool capable of doing so. Stick with the EX6-XL instead.

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David MacLeod

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 12, 2008

ok, maybe I'll end up reselling them on ebay

joe diamond

· #10 · Oct 13, 2008

About the cold part.

That is what exhaust pipes are for........or make them up in a warm spot. I also have a "cable heater" that I got at a 7-11. When you hit the flame it says "GITT"ER DONE!" just like the Cable Guy with the trouser cleavage.

Joe

David MacLeod

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 13, 2008

lol, I was actually meaning how they stand up to the weather. this piece is in the wind and cold (it is booted and taped) during movements.
I made it so there is enough slack to prevent much movement.
GIT ER DONE !!

BattleZone

· #12 · Oct 13, 2008

joe diamond said:
I also have a "cable heater" that I got at a 7-11.

Joe

Wow... I also got myself a "cable heater" from 7-11. Who knew you could get a Big Gulp and a satellite tool in the same convenient place! :lol:

houskamp

· #13 · Oct 13, 2008

I need the "me heater" :lol:

David MacLeod

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 13, 2008

<snicker> trust me, spend 20 minutes out in a -55 wind chill and a hanging tarp feels warm after that

BattleZone

· #15 · Oct 13, 2008

55 F is plenty cold enough for me. We get snow where I live... about once every 10-15 years, and it usually lasts an hour or two.

David MacLeod

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 13, 2008

lol, know its OT but... spent some time in AL. in december, 1 inch of snow shut the place down. I could not understand that...

rudeney

· #17 · Oct 13, 2008

An inch? Wow, you must have been here for the blizzard…

joe diamond

· #18 · Oct 13, 2008

Ok, Ok!
Serious now.

The only damage I know of regarding cold and fittings is water that gets in and freezes and then thaws. As the cycle repeats itself it pushed the cable electrode a little further apart. Eventually you get an arc that burns the center wire until an open circuit occurs. It looks ok from the outside but there is no wire.

Protect from water with cable grease or an enclosure.

Joe

BkwSoft

· #19 · Oct 13, 2008

David MacLeod said:
lol, know its OT but... spent some time in AL. in december, 1 inch of snow shut the place down. I could not understand that...

I know what you mean. I use to laugh when my sister going to school out in CA would talk about the pileups on the freeways because the roads were wet with rain. :nono2: Then back here at home you would have to get at least a couple of inches of snow before they would even roll the plow trucks.

An inch of snow, maybe they would salt and sand major highways just to keep it from packing down into ice, but forget anything else.

Personally I don't mind the snow. It fills in the potholes and makes for a smother ride.

David MacLeod

Discussion Starter · #20 · Oct 13, 2008

man, my road is so much smoother in winter I can drive it at 70 instead of 30...

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