Re: mag mount cable runs?

>>>>> "Tyler" == Tyler Booth <[email protected]> writes:

Russell> I recently had a coax failure (at least it sure looks like
Russell> one) on a vehicle magnetic-mounted antennas cable run (the 10
Russell> foot LMR-195 or whatever it is between the magnetic base and
Russell> the N-connector).  One day it was fine, then next I noticed
Russell> about a 20 dB attenuation.  It looks like the failure was due
Russell> to being pinched in the trunk lid for an extended period of
Russell> time (I left it on the car for about a week).  Btw, for
Russell> comparison, I tested my "backup" mag mount I had purchased
Russell> from Scott Brown some time ago and discovered it too had a
Russell> substantial attenuation (that's okay, i got a good deal
Russell> anyway ... i think).

Russell> I have googled around and not found any specific advice about
Russell> how to protect coax from these pinch failures while
Russell> maintaining a reasonable seal between inside and outside the
Russell> car.  I'd rather not ruin more of these things.  Knowledgable
Russell> and/or experienced advice, please?

Tyler> Drill a hole in the trunk :)

Follow up.  I bought a couple more mag mounts and to my stunned
surprise, they sucked too.  Lots of head scratching later, I tried a
new pigtail (u.fl to n-female) and the big 20 dB attenuation went
away.  Weirdly, if I connected the antenna directly to the pigtail, it
worked fine, but if I connected pretty much anything else, it was as
if it wasn't making contact or something.  Luckily, I could "hear" the
difference during stumbling.  Long pauses with no traffic in Portland
are very odd, and I noticed it right away.

So, looks like the coax is fine and I can slam it in doors all I want.


-- 
Russell Senior, Secretary
[email protected]

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