Can you splice antenna wire like regular wire?
09-20-2006, 07:49 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
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Assuming you mean the antenna to radio lead the answer is no. It is a co-axial cable so 'special' splices required (radio shack). If you mean the up/down power wires then yes, normal splices work.
09-20-2006, 08:03 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
Technically....no. Real world...yup.
I'll explain, the outer braided portion of the cable acts as an interference shield and should be consistent through the run of the cable. Anytime you have the stinger, or center conductor exposed outside that ground shield interference can be introduced into the signal.
If you keep the splice as small and short as possible it might cause no problem at all.
One thing you can try to do to minimize the effect is strip the cables you want to splice fairly long. Cut back the center portion leaving the shield braid much longer on each section. You might have to take some time to un-braid it first. Solder or twist if you have to the center conductor first. Insulate that somehow, maybe just slide up some heat shrink. Then split the braid out on each section into two strands 180 from each other. Twist or solder those now four wires together across the center splice kepping them 180 from each other around the center splice. If you're good you can just intermingle the two braided ends together around the center splice and then slide your heatshrink up over all that and shrink it down. That would keep the best integrity of the shield.
A splice like that takes some real forethought with heatshrink and lengths of strips, so think it out first.
It's not the best way to extend an antenna cable but we all live in the real world sometimes.
I'll explain, the outer braided portion of the cable acts as an interference shield and should be consistent through the run of the cable. Anytime you have the stinger, or center conductor exposed outside that ground shield interference can be introduced into the signal.
If you keep the splice as small and short as possible it might cause no problem at all.
One thing you can try to do to minimize the effect is strip the cables you want to splice fairly long. Cut back the center portion leaving the shield braid much longer on each section. You might have to take some time to un-braid it first. Solder or twist if you have to the center conductor first. Insulate that somehow, maybe just slide up some heat shrink. Then split the braid out on each section into two strands 180 from each other. Twist or solder those now four wires together across the center splice kepping them 180 from each other around the center splice. If you're good you can just intermingle the two braided ends together around the center splice and then slide your heatshrink up over all that and shrink it down. That would keep the best integrity of the shield.
A splice like that takes some real forethought with heatshrink and lengths of strips, so think it out first.
It's not the best way to extend an antenna cable but we all live in the real world sometimes.
Last edited by ALLT4; 09-20-2006 at 08:08 PM.
09-20-2006, 08:12 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
Originally Posted by ALLT4
Technically....no. Real world...yup.
I'll explain, the outer braided portion of the cable acts as an interference shield and should be consistent through the run of the cable. Anytime you have the stinger, or center conductor exposed outside that ground shield interference can be introduced into the signal.
If you keep the splice as small and short as possible it might cause no problem at all.
One thing you can try to do to minimize the effect is strip the cables you want to splice fairly long. Cut back the center portion leaving the shield braid much longer on each section. You might have to take some time to un-braid it first. Insulate that somehow, maybe just slide up some heat shrink. Solder or twist if you have to the center conductor first. Then split the braid out on each section into two strands 180 from each other. Twist or solder those now four wires together across the center splice kepping them 180 from each other around the center splice. If you're good you can just intermingle the two braided ends together around the center splice and then slide your heatshrink up over all that and shrink it down. That would keep the best integrity of the shield.
A splice like that takes some real forethought with heatshrink and lengths of strips, so think it out first.
It's not the best way to extend an antenna cable but we all live in the real world sometimes.
I'll explain, the outer braided portion of the cable acts as an interference shield and should be consistent through the run of the cable. Anytime you have the stinger, or center conductor exposed outside that ground shield interference can be introduced into the signal.
If you keep the splice as small and short as possible it might cause no problem at all.
One thing you can try to do to minimize the effect is strip the cables you want to splice fairly long. Cut back the center portion leaving the shield braid much longer on each section. You might have to take some time to un-braid it first. Insulate that somehow, maybe just slide up some heat shrink. Solder or twist if you have to the center conductor first. Then split the braid out on each section into two strands 180 from each other. Twist or solder those now four wires together across the center splice kepping them 180 from each other around the center splice. If you're good you can just intermingle the two braided ends together around the center splice and then slide your heatshrink up over all that and shrink it down. That would keep the best integrity of the shield.
A splice like that takes some real forethought with heatshrink and lengths of strips, so think it out first.
It's not the best way to extend an antenna cable but we all live in the real world sometimes.
Yup, Yup-what he said--and put enough tape/heatshrink around the center coductor to equal the original diameter of the center conductor insulation. I'd think soldering the center conductor is almost mandatory to keep the best signal. Have at it! 
09-20-2006, 08:13 PM
#5
Le Mans Master
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Allt4 is correct, it is a shield and can be done that way. I think I would sooner buy a splice kit (splices,stripper, and crimper) as that woven shield wire is a real PITA for my big clumsy fingers.
Last edited by aminnich; 09-20-2006 at 08:24 PM.
09-20-2006, 08:19 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
Something else you could do if you HAVE to splice. For real though I'm not understanding why you just can't buy the right stuff.
Buy a female and male RCA type phono plug (Radio Shack).
Solder/crimp one of each to each end and have at her.
Buy a female and male RCA type phono plug (Radio Shack).
Solder/crimp one of each to each end and have at her.
09-20-2006, 09:11 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
You deal with a whole new set of problems when the Vette is your daily driver. One of those problems is not always being able to run and get the right parts.
09-22-2006, 09:46 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
Originally Posted by tarheelracer
You deal with a whole new set of problems when the Vette is your daily driver. One of those problems is not always being able to run and get the right parts.
09-22-2006, 10:23 PM
#9
Melting Slicks
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back in the day--the cb day (citizens band radio) for those too young--we made extenders routinely...pull the braided shield back an inch on each piece, solder the tiny little core wires together, tape the core splice, solder the shields together and tape the whole mess over...quick, cheap, better performance than any other way.
09-23-2006, 02:26 PM
#10
Drifting
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Originally Posted by redrose
back in the day--the cb day (citizens band radio) for those too young--we made extenders routinely...pull the braided shield back an inch on each piece, solder the tiny little core wires together, tape the core splice, solder the shields together and tape the whole mess over...quick, cheap, better performance than any other way.
It helps keep the 'integrity' of the shield.
I'm a ham operator and I've done this many times with no apparent loss of signal.
