Hello all. On a recent sail, I hooked up my marine radio to the antenna cable that comes out of the lower end of the mast. There is a fitting that goes through the cabin roof, so I hooked up the end of that fitting to the end of the cable coming out of the mast foot. When I tried to separate them, the fitting at the mast foot broke (sorry, no pic), and I can't see a way to fix it. So, it looks like I need to replace the mast foot fitting. My question is how to do this. I assume that antenna cable isn't like electrical cable, where you just cut the old plug off and replace it. Or is it? Any suggestions?
Probably a marine coax connector. Tricky but not impossible, although these guys make it look easy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ecfu7s8rPw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ecfu7s8rPw) .
Jon898 - thanks - I'll check it out!
They can be fixed easily, atleast all the fittings I have had to do go well. Just be sure no stray wires in the connection and you will have clear sound and reception.
Mac
If you are putting a new plug on co-ax these are easy, weatherproof and don't require soldering. They don't require dressing or trimming the co-ax either, just cut the end off square.
http://shakespeare-marine.com/shakespeare-style-pl-259-cp-g (http://shakespeare-marine.com/shakespeare-style-pl-259-cp-g)
If you're just splicing two co-ax ends together these work the same way.
http://shakespeare-marine.com/shakespeare-style-pl-258-cp-g-0 (http://shakespeare-marine.com/shakespeare-style-pl-258-cp-g-0)
Most chandlers seem to stock them.
Cheers,
Derek
For a very different opinion on the Shakespeare "no solder" connectors, have a look at Compass Marine's detailed blog post. I agree - these connectors aren't a good choice in the marine environment.
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/vhf_cable
Wes
Suspect the key is to make sure all the connections are sound and (most importantly) that water is kept out. Don't think I'd trust the self-piercing type myself as I've always used crimp types with heat-shrink sleeves.
I'm going on five years with the Shakespeare solderless piercing type and they are doing fine. I'm out exposed 24/7 - 365 but only in the salt for a couple of weeks a year, the rest of the time I'm on a fresh water lake. I do keep them wrapped with that stretch stuff that sticks to itself but is not adhesive (can't think of the name for that tape).
see the blue thing under the shackle.
(http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af200/brackish_photos/ImprovementsArion024-1.jpg)
Thanks for allthe info. I should've added that I'm in Michigan and do all freshwater sailing.