Should I seal the plugs?

[fez_uk]

I am planning my new install which conists of a antron 99 and a discone. (the discone is already up but I want to upgrade to a better loss coax.)

Reading the forums on a few installation posts and get confilicting answers in should I seal my connection plugs (connected to the antenna side) with tape such as self amalgamating tape ?

The discone connection will sort of be sheltered from the base of the pipe but the a99 will be slightly more exposed.

Would the connections themselfs be designed to repel water if installed correctly plan to use a pl259 on the a99 and a N-type plug on the discone or another pl259.

Thanks

 

[jim202]

As much fan fare as the connector companies may make about how weather proof
their connectors are, after 40 plus years in the radio field, I have learned that you
had better add additional protection beyond just the connector.

Again from field proven time, I always tell people to use a good electrical tape and
put one or two layers over the entire connector area and extend onto the coax.
Then use some form of weather seal tape or product. The new fusion self sealing
tape works well. Then another two layers of the good electrical tape over the fusion
tape.

Make sure that you have a slight overlap of the tape from each wrap around the
connector. This insures a good seal.

Reason for the first layer of electrical tape on the connector is to be able to remove
the weather sealing if you ever have to open the connector down the road. If you
apply the fusion tape or duct seal type of weather seal right onto the connector,
you will never be able to use the connector again. It is very hard to get this junk
off the threads and connector surface. The electrical tape allows you to just
peal the whole mess off after a careful slice with a sharp knife. Be careful not
to cut the coax jacket.

Jim

I am planning my new install which conists of a antron 99 and a discone. (the discone is already up but I want to upgrade to a better loss coax.)

Reading the forums on a few installation posts and get confilicting answers in should I seal my connection plugs (connected to the antenna side) with tape such as self amalgamating tape ?

The discone connection will sort of be sheltered from the base of the pipe but the a99 will be slightly more exposed.

Would the connections themselfs be designed to repel water if installed correctly plan to use a pl259 on the a99 and a N-type plug on the discone or another pl259.

Thanks

 

[fineshot1]

I usually seal it up on the antenna connector - i use the layer method.

Tape - Taffy - Tape

One layer of electrical tape. This layer keeps the taffy from sticking to the conn & cable.

One lite layer of taffy(inside the pipe it may need to be extra thin layer as there
is not much room in the pipe).

One layer of tape tightly wound around the taffy to make it oooze out as its being wound
around the taffy. You can trim any extra taffy ooozing out.

If you ever need to go back into these layers use a sharp knife and cut through the
layers till you reach the first tape layer. Then peel the first layer out and it all comes
off the cable & conn in almost one peice and reduces the sticky taffy mess.