Whats the best way to make coax splice

Do not cut the braid. Pull the center conductor and insulation through the braid where the jacket was cut.

Using an icepick or a thin nail, unbraid the braid as far back as the cable jacket. Carefully twist these wires as before, and cut it to suit the installation.

groundwire said:

I have seen it done that way but i cant seem to get the center out of the braid without making a big mess of things. Oh yea im using lmr400uf so thats what im working with here

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It will be hard to do with the solid center conductor. Probably better to unbraid like Beetle said.

That’s what I do.

groundwire said:

Ok the title is just weird, because i dont know what you call it? Pigtail? Idk, anyway. Whats the best way to seperate the center conductor and shield to connect to my puck mount? For years i just slit the side of the braid and and pulled it to the side and twisted it, and that has always worked fine even with high power but then it ends up thin and weak (the shield). So i need a new way to do it ie: the right way. If you have pics that would help. As a side note, i have been searching for months for pictures of the puck mount connections on those big boy comp guys rigs but nope. Amps radios alternators etc yes, but no antenna mount connections, weird. I want to see how they do it. Anyway i need it to be a solid connection.

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The puck mount should have instructions on the preferred method of cable connection.
There are many fine technicians that will use another method that they have found easier to use in the past. but there is always a little trick they may fail to impart.
Manufacturers instructions have been tested over time.

groundwire said:

Oh yea im using lmr400uf so thats what im working with here

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What the heck for? Just use RG58, the lengths involved are so short there's no benefit to be had from using even RG213.

If you want to make a good Coax splice and use outdoors 3M has heavy duty heat shrink

Opinions vary but don't sell yourself short on options...

Handy Andy said:

Opinions vary but don't sell yourself short on options...

View attachment 37339
That is if you want to stick with "Braid" -
more than one way to offset torque problems
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I like that split braid.

For what it’s worth, I have a fatboy puck (and backing plate) on the pickup and am very happy with it. It’s very nicely made.

My only gripe, the threaded holes through the bottom are very close to the outside edge. Not a structural thing, but makes cutting a gasket quite difficult.

On the other pickup I have a piece of Delrin, probably 6x6 or so, and a 10K stud. Inside of roof is reinforced with glass and resin.

Both are very strong (considering Dodge’s beer-can-quality roofs)

Wondering here...

IF they can make a boat out of this stuff, why not a Gasket?
My thoughts on this are to apply the "paste" to the bottom of the puck, but before you smear it on, take some threaded short bolts to fit the puck holes to keep them clear of this stuff.

Apply the paste in a good film, thick enough to provide the gasket - but let the material "skin over" before you "clamp/squish" it onto the roof / truck / side panel - of your vehicle.

This way, the skinning over lets the material cure so it won't mar up or adhere in any adverse way to the finish but provide enough liquidity to allow the gasket to form and waterproof it.

Else they may need to know what you've just posted. Because even in my own experiences I've had to do my own mounts - it only took one experience with "short to the side" clearance of a Ball mount and the way the metal fatigued and tore off / failed - for me to say, ok this is going to be an on-me affair.

I've been doing my own since - so as I look back and see that they've done wonders with these pucks, the metal that these mounts use, (Read Vehicle finish metal) is getting thinner and worser to work with in making something that STAYS on the vehicle if you hit a branch or overhang.

Andy, the delrin on my son’s pickup roof was installed in 2005 with just a thin layer of good old GE silicone.

Not leaking yet (or at least if it has, he hasn’t complained)