As far as which cable being specified, this thread was started sp that it could be definitive for the job at hand. It can be meant for ALL coax types, so that any one reading this thread could get ALL of their questions and needed answers. Info is all great so far, so I would like to see info on the large coax as well.
Great so far!
Keep it up, please.
More, more...
there can be no definitive way to do all plugs/coax types Robb,each require a different approach,for small diameter coax/reducers freecells way has much merit.
for heavier rg213/u/rg214/u coax with polyethylene dielectric i've found the best approach is too remove the jacket, tin the whole of the exposed shield, then to cut off the excess shield/dielectric in one go with plumbers pipe cutting tool,then tin the centre conductor,
for nickel plated plugs i then remove the plating at the tip/solder holes and tin them all (preparation is half the battle), once inserted in the plug its a very straightforward matter to solder both inner and braid to the plug. the resulting joints are both electrically and mechanically sound.
you can miss out the previous stage with any part that is silver plated as solder will take to silver easily.
the good thing about doing it with pipe cutting tool is it allows very accurate length patch leads/antenna runs to be made up constantly within a mm or two of the desired length.
while i find this an excellent way of doing hard polyethylene type dielectric coax, it isn't so good with foam dielectric cable where the dielectric will melt easily. which is the main reason there isn't a one way fits all solution.
the main thing to consider is your iron is up too the job,i'd consider an 50w temp compensated iron or 100w standard iron to be minimum requirements for rg213/u with the 100w the best choice for rg214/u. you may get away with a 25 to 50w iron on lower diameter coax if your proficient.
solder guns just ain't up to the job at all,the tip area is too large and the temperature gets pulled down too easily with heavy conductors.
i would agree with beetle about ten tec's tech's videos, they are poorly done,not only with the wrong type of iron, he also doesn't tin the braid/shield before insertion into the pl plug, not to mention his technique using a sharp knife is at best lethal, although i got by with knifes for years myself i certainly wouldn't teach a newb to do it that way, it is deffo only for those who are very proficient as one slip can be brutal. the plumbers pipe cutter is not only safer but far more accurate too and easily the best way to teach newbs so that they still have enough fingers left for the day that they become proficient.
