Someone nearby to make up LMR-400?

[Ghostnotes]

Is there anybody in the Houston Texas area that can make up and crimp LMR-400 Coax Cable??
I'd be more willing to pay someone as opposed to paying several hundred dollars for a 1 time use.

 

[trentbob]

Is there anybody in the Houston Texas area that can make up and crimp LMR-400 Coax Cable??
I'd be more willing to pay someone as opposed to paying several hundred dollars for a 1 time use.

Google local amateur radio clubs and attempt to make contact with someone and ask if someone would be willing to do the work for you. Whatever they ask. Maybe a donation.

 

[Ghostnotes]

I plan to, just hoping I might get lucky here and someone sees it. That way I'm not just showing up to a club on day 1 with no contact and asking for help.

 

[FKimble]

There should be several 2-way radio shops in your city. A call or visit should get you taken care of. Of course it will cost a couple bucks.

Frank

 

[Project25_MASTR]

Bearcom in Deer Park can…as a whole company Bearcom orders some 25,000 feet of LMR-400 a year. Part of the reason they get it for less than $0.50 a foot.

 

[trentbob]

I plan to, just hoping I might get lucky here and someone sees it. That way I'm not just showing up to a club on day 1 with no contact and asking for help.

I agree that you must have radio shops within your area that service commercial two-way radio communication for various agencies like cab companies and oil and gas companies, school buses etc etc. They can do the work for you, we're talking about 10 to 15 minutes worth the effort.

Any truck stops in your area might have CB radio service centers, the reason I suggested the amateur radio club sites was, you could join for $25 to $50 as an associate member who's unlicensed and then they would do anything you would like for free and would be more than happy to do it. Regardless of what direction you went in. That's just the way I think. I guess I'm thinking of my own club.

 

[merlin]

less than $0.50 a foot.

WOW, unheard of for good LMR-400.
I found 400 foot of it at an auction, got it for $20 and fees.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

WOW, unheard of for good LMR-400.
I found 400 foot of it at an auction, got it for $20 and fees.

Power of buying in bulk. Cost is probably$0.35 per foot or so. Last I checked Bearcom's price was $0.42 per foot.

 

[Ghostnotes]

Bearcom in Deer Park can…as a whole company Bearcom orders some 25,000 feet of LMR-400 a year. Part of the reason they get it for less than $0.50 a foot.

I thought they were just a supplier for commercial/industrial.We would rent their equipment for turnarounds.So they take walk-ins and will calls?

I think there is one on Spencer as well. Kind of rundown looking....forgot the name.

 

[Ghostnotes]

Actually, I have decided to solder my connections. It's going through 1" conduit down the soffit to the arrestor and 1"underground to the antenna, so pulling it through won't be a problem.
Curious though, is that still common practice or is compression a lot more common?

 

[prcguy]

Actually, I have decided to solder my connections. It's going through 1" conduit down the soffit to the arrestor and 1"underground to the antenna, so pulling it through won't be a problem.
Curious though, is that still common practice or is compression a lot more common?

Crimping with the correct tools is better than soldering, especially on LMR400 where you can melt the dielectric and wreak the cable. With the right tools the Times EZ connectors are the best, a 5yr old can install them in a minute or two and it will sweep perfect through 6GHz.

 

[Ghostnotes]

Crimping with the correct tools is better than soldering, especially on LMR400 where you can melt the dielectric and wreak the cable. With the right tools the Times EZ connectors are the best, a 5yr old can install them in a minute or two and it will sweep perfect through 6GHz.

Even with stranded core?
I was under the impression you had to solder that type regardless.

 

[prcguy]

Even with stranded core?
I was under the impression you had to solder that type regardless.

Aah, EZ connectors are for solid center conductor, sorry. When soldering the center pin you need a hot iron and get in and out fast to avoid melting the dielectric. I would tin the inside of the center pin then wick the solder back out before putting on the center conductor, that will make the soldering go much faster.

 

[Ghostnotes]

Yeah I bought the braded for flexibility, then learned that required soldering. No biggie. I should still have what I need from a speaker crossover build.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

You can still crimp braided core. The center pin of teh conductors you buy may not allow you to but it is allowable to crimp stranded copper.

 

[Ghostnotes]

You can still crimp braided core. The center pin of teh conductors you buy may not allow you to but it is allowable to crimp stranded copper.

You actually answered my next question. After all, we crimp stranded wire all the time for high current conditions.

Skin effect aside, is there any advantage for using stranded or solid core for either HF, VHF/UHF?
I will have about 40-50ft left over after I make my connections to the 6BTV.
Also, I have some pure copper antisieze from other projects. Is it worth it to coat the threads before you seal them off?

Thanks!

 

[speedway_navigator]

I've put crimp N connectors on LMR400UF. It has about .5 dB more loss per 100' at UHF. I use it for my training classes since it's easier to coil and ship.

 

[Ghostnotes]

I went ahead and bought the kit.
Been out of the country on business lately, so my project came to a stanstill. I was able to get the antenna up/mounted, the ground rod pounded and the cable ran. Next is getting the ground ran to the ither side of the house. Which is about 150ft or so.

 

[nokones]

A hot iron should be about 675 degrees Fahrenheit and always clean and keep your tips clean and tinned.

 

[Ghostnotes]

A hot iron should be about 675 degrees Fahrenheit and always clean and keep your tips clean and tinned.

I have silver solder will that work?