I'll be completing my XV50 Transverter this week. I neglected to order a crystal oven, so while waiting on that I thought I'd start assembling the Tx/Rx cables from the XV50 to the K2's K60XV transverter adapter.
In my ignorance, I thought I'd just buy four BNC plugs, some RG58 and solder up a couple of cables. As I searched for components, the plethora of choices soon overwhelmed my naive assumptions. First off, most connectors appear to be designed for cable that has been stripped to very precise dimensions. So I need a cable stripper if I'm to do the job correctly. Next, what kind of BNC connectors should I use? The K2 and the XV50 will both be indoors and adjacent to each other (right? or is there some reason they should be separated?) so weather proofing isn't a requirement but good electrical characteristics are important. Are there any guidelines for connector quality? I know, don't buy the 50 cent connectors, spend the big bucks and get the 3 dollar connectors. But the junk yard next door sells the 50 cent connectors for three dollars each. Are there manufacturers known for their quality? For their junk? I've always tended to order those items that DigiKey has in stock, assuming that those are the items most people buy and represent the best price points. The same questions asked above also apply to cabling. However, there is another major consideration. Should it be RG58, RG8 or even RG213? I assume that at the lengths needed for this application, it shouldn't make any noticeable difference, but if I invest in tools, reusability will make a huge difference, What type of coax should I choose as a baseline for home installation? I've read stories where folks have swapped out all the coax in their homes, but they never seem to say why; it's as though I was suppose to know why. Do any of you know why? About tools; there seems to be three different tools for use with coax/connectors. Cutters, strippers and crimpers. Most low cost tools appear to be dedicated to a single type of cable, others offer 'die sets' that can accommodate different cables and connectors. Any opinions, experiences and help are most welcome! _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
