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How to attach an F connector plug
How to wire up a (screened) wall plate
How to wire up a (screened) diplexed/triplexed wall plate
Repairing a budget unscreened wallplate
How to wire up a Yagi18 / XB10 / XB16 dipole (DAB dipole = the same)
How to wire up a Log36 (Log40 mk2)
Log Periodic aerials : tilt them up at the front end !
When attaching CoAx plugs it is always worthwhile slightly kinking the centre core
of the cable (before you assemble the plug) so as to maximise the chances of good
contact between it and the plugs centre pin. Some people recommend soldering this
connection but I`m not sure it`s really necessary or advisable, it`s probably more
likely that you will just melt/deform the plastic centre spacer rather than adequately
solder the centre core ! A better idea than soldering is to lightly crimp (to crimp,
posh word meaning to squash) the centre core of the Co-
Before you attach the plug, thread the cable through the screw cap ! After trimming back the cable (as above) insert the centre core into the screw clamp and tighten to make good contact, though not too much that you cut the end of the wire off, or shear the screw...... Then assemble both sides of the metal plug and the top and bottom plastic cover, finally clamp it all together by screwing on the cap.
I reckon these Right Angle CoAx plugs we sell are pretty decent quality, as you can see they are screened, though some people are wary of right angle connectors.
core
screw
The F connector should be screwed onto the cable until 1 to 2 mm of the centre core protrudes from the top of the F connector. Note that the connector should be a fairly tight fit on the cable, that`s what stops it pulling off ! If the correct screw on F is attached to the cable (and there are different sizes of each, our Fs are correct for our cable), then they won`t come off, not unless someone tries to use the cable to abseil down the house......
Also see crimp on v screw on F connectors and "silcone grease".
Carefully remove screws,
then withdraw plate from its mounting.
Now smash up the plate, preferably using “Derrick the Decider II”.
If Derrick is unavailable, gently toss crappy surface plate into the biggest deepest bin you can find, then have bin emptied as soon as possible.
Now go and buy a decent plate *,
and fit it as per instructions above.
* They`re only a few quid, so don`t be tight, get your hand in your pocket all you parsimonious peoples of the planet.
Such is Derrick`s renown that he has turned from a noun into a verb, like Hoover. If something requires despatching we say “I`m going to Derrick it”, then, after the deed, “it`s been Derricked”.
* Derrick is the second person to hold the title. Derrick the 1st was slain whilst deciding whether we should spend any more time trying to repair a Hitachi TV, that was way back on the 23 of October 2002 AD. It was particularly poignant because he was so young, only 20 months old in fact.
Tragic.
Still, the king is dead, long live the king.
Derrick the 2nd, truly the king of the hammers.
Vivat Rex !
Trim back the cable as in the picture, arrange the outer braiding along the top and bottom of the cable so as to maximise contact with the screening can. If using a spacer plate feed the cable through it now ! Insert the centre core through the screw post and tighten, not too much that you screw straight through the wire..... Shut the screening door and tighten the two screws, try not to overtighten and crush the cable excessively.
Note, if short of clearance in the mounting box (due to the screening can requiring more clearance) then spacer plates are available.
Remove the screened diplexer can from the face plate, noting which way round it was ! Remove the clamp bar and slacken off the screw in the right hand socket (left if viewed from the back), the left socket is unused (apart from in the Quad plate). Trim the cable as in the picture and arrange the outer braid underneath so as to make maximum connection with the can. If using a spacer plate feed the cable through it now !
Insert the centre core as far as it will go into the socket then fully tighten the screw, though do not overtighten. Replace the clamp bar and tighten down onto the cable, not so far that it crushes it flat. The clamp will end up at a slight angle, but that is OK. Replace the can on the surface plate, ensuring it`s the right way round ! The TV outlet is the male, and yes I agree with you, that`s stupid, but that`s how they`ve been designed !
Note, if short of clearance in the mounting box (due to the screening can requiring more clearance) then spacer plates are available.
Remove cap from dipole and push the cable through the hole. Now, and only now, trim back the cable as in the diagram. Try to fold the outer braiding under the cable so as to maximise contact with the balun PCB. Tighten all screws firmly but not too far that they shear off the centre core or excessively crush the cable. Replace cap, and then tape the cable to the aerial such that is is in a downward direction where it exits the dipole cap, so as to minimise the possibility of water seeping in.
If the aerial is centre mounted, as all large aerials should be, most manufacturers recommend routing the cable back down the reflector and then onto the pole (because that`s the position it`s in when tested for benchmarking), but we found no difference in signal level when routing the cable forward. And it looks much better......
Our DAB aerials have similar dipoles.
Rear view of one of our screened diplexed (or triplexed) surface plates.
Rear view of one of our screened plates.
Applause For The Claws (well the one on the left anyway)
Ensure the Co Axial connector`s claws are actually shaped to grip the cable, many aren`t.
The ones we sell are.....
You can buy cable stripping tools, but I have to say most aerial installers don`t use them, which must tell its own story. I`m unconvinced by them myself, and, along with most installers, prefer to use the method below.
Two things to bear in mind, the sharper the knife the better, if it`s sufficiently sharp then just touching the outside of curved cable will be enough to split it (unless it`s cold......). Secondly, try to ensure as little of the screening braiding is removed as possible.
Using a sharp knife, cut lightly all the way round into the cable`s outer insulation, but not all the way through to the braiding below.
Bend the cable, which will split open the insulation without cutting through any of the screening braids, assuming the weather isn`t too cold........
Pull off the outer insulation you`ve just cut (split) off.
Fold the screening braids back over the cable`s insulation. Note how decent cable has a foil, preferably a copper foil.
Remove the foil, assuming you haven`t got crap cable, in which case you won`t have a foil..... Note, the foil can cut your finger!
Cut through the insulator and remove it to expose the centre conductor.
Connect up the aerial as in the pictures, having fed the unstripped cable through the hole in the cap, and then stripped it as shown above..... It doesn`t matter which wire goes to which terminal, or it shouldn`t ! After wiring up replace the cap, and then tape the cable to the aerial such that is is in a downward direction where it exits said cap, so as to minimise the possibility of water seeping in.
Cheapo budget unscreened wall plate,
which requires repairing.......
Push the cable all the way through the
bottom boom and out at the far end.
into the aerial
Now recut the cable (so the end is square) and attach the F connector (supplied) as described above.
Next screw the F connector onto the F socket on the PCB, then carefully, but firmly, push the PCB assembly into the twin booms of the aerial.
downwards
Clip the weatherpoofing cap over the end of the aerial, and, finally, don`t forget to direct the cable downwards (at the clamp end of the aerial) using the supplied plastic bung.
We recommend that when installing the Log36 the front end is tilted a few degrees up, see below.
The FM Half Wave dipole and FM Folded Dipole both have 1in booms and generally come with the above clamp, which fits all poles between 1in and 2in. It will be noted how the aerial`s mounting boom can be rotated to change polarity.
The picture on the left shows the aerial mounted on a 1in diameter loft kit, the right hand picture showing it on a 2in pole. It must be admitted it`s a tight fit on the latter, but it does fit, as the above picture proves !
Some people recommend splaying the screening strands back over the “claw” (see picture on the right), as opposed to folding them back over the insulation and under the claw, as above. Theoretically this puts the cable`s screening directly in contact with the body of the plug. On the other hand it`s messier, and personally I can`t remember ever having a problem with the “conventional way”.
So you pay your money,
and then you make your own mind up.
Do not over tighten a CoAxial plug if you want to maximise the strength of the claw, i.e. make it harder to pull off !
Do not screw up the collar as far as that in the picture on the left because the jaws on the claw are then free to bend outwards. The plug on the right is tightened to the optimum with the collar holding the jaws onto
the cable.
This is “Derrick the Decider”,
Or to give him his full title :
Derrick the Decider II *
Derrick is a valued member of staff whose decisions are always correct and final.
Well, final anyway.
His original job was to decide whether or not we should continue spending time trying to repair any recalcitrant recon TV (for sale). If the set was taking up far too much time and still not repaired, we`d ask Derrick whether we should spend any longer on it.
He was very decisive.
Derrick must have saved us hundreds of hours in labour over the years, thus he has a place of honour on our wall.
We are more than willing to give advice to those actually purchasing from us. Could those only seeking information please just find the answer somewhere on this site, or ring an aerial installer local to them, or call the reception advice phone numbers.
If you`ve found this site informative and, hopefully, interesting as well,
please help us increase the number of people reading it.
Log Periodic Aerials : tilt them up !
We recommend that all Log Periodic aerials are tilted up a few degrees at the front end. This can occasionally help with interference suppression (and the fact they`ve got a wide acceptance angle) but, more importantly, far more importantly, it helps to keep water out of the junction box at the front of the aerial.
Both the models of DM Log we sell are supplied with tilting clamps to easily facilitate the necessary elevation. As far as I`m aware the DMs are the only Log Periodics on the market with tilting clamps..
Unfortunately the Log36 does not come with a tilting clamp, and furthermore cannot be retro fitted with one either. Thus, after fitting the aerial, our advice is to slacken off the clamping nuts on the supplied clamp, push the front end of the aerial up, then retighten the nuts. If the front of the aerial sags back down repeat the process but pushing the front end up further, repeat until a few degrees of tilt are present.
How To Attach / Wire Up
Plugs, Wall Plates & Aerials
Subjects are listed on this page in the following order :