ALP Antenna BNC Connecting

[Jan McL]

Difficult to get RF cable in and out. Difficult to know when the BNC is seated. Hard to grasp to twist out.

I could use a leatherman, but that seems like overkill.

What trick am I missing?

-- Jan

[RPSharman]

I found I could only remove the BNC when both pressing up on the BNC while also pressing down on the antenna.  Disappointing two-handed operation.

Or something like this, if you want a tool for the job.

http://www.datacomtools.com/catalog/Coaxial-Products/BNC-Removal.htm

The other solution could be getting Canare connectors for your cables.  They are typically larger and may allow you to get a better hold of the connector.

I bought the PSC antennas when I started mixing, one reason was the configuration of the BNC connector.

Robert

[cmassey]

If you go for the BNC tools, they work very well.  First thing I grab when working behind a rack panel.

cleve

[Jan McL]

Good ideas!

I'd rather not have to remove the cables or antenna at all, but for the nonce, an impinging, low-hanging shelf dictates removal for truck load-in.

Maybe I can figure how to configure the sharkfins to rest lower on the cart.

-- Jan

[RPSharman]

Jan,

I have to remove the antennas from my main cart to load into my trailer.  I simply mounted a baby pin to the middle of my shorter follow cart, and I transfer the antennas to the follow cart for transport.

Robert

[Marc Wielage]

Difficult to get RF cable in and out. Difficult to know when the BNC is seated. Hard to grasp to twist out.

I sympathize -- that's one of those things I've been frustrated with for several years, since I started using a Venue (and a Quadpack before that). There is a special screwdriver/grip that I've seen video engineers use in order to detach a single BNC cable from a deep rack full of other BNC connectors very close together. But I think that would be overkill for just a couple of sharkfins.

Me, I just curse and grit my teeth. God help you if you get a slightly-bent connector on a BNC stuck to a sharkfin (a hell in which I've been through once).

--Marc W.

[Jan McL]

Hahahaha, Marc, cussing it is...for the nonce. At least I've managed to tweak the setup so that only one ALP must be removed at the end of the day, so the cursing is reduced by 50%, so there's THAT.

-- Jan

[greg sextro]

Try pushing in as you twist.  That seems to do the trick for me.

-greg-

[imagist]

I wondered why the BNC came out at an angle on these Audio Technica ATW-A49's but reading above this might be why, would these be just as good as Lectro's?

They're a very good price

[jason porter]

I find the "specs" of BNC connectors to vary enough to make them hard to use.  I am not sure if it is a "brand incompatibility" (or variance) but it seems to vary just enough to make me think that some of my BNC connectors got squashed

[studiomprd]

" There is a special screwdriver/grip that I've seen video engineers use in order to detach a single BNC cable from a deep rack full of other BNC connectors very close together "

the tool is widely available in the appropriate places, and generally inexpensive.

[tlarvenz]

This is the tool:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/358223-REG/TecNec_850008_BNC_Connector_Removal_Tool.html

For a video engineer, it's worth its weight in gold, particularly for routers. 

Haven't touched the thing since I saw the (record) light and switched to sound.

" There is a special screwdriver/grip that I've seen video engineers use in order to detach a single BNC cable from a deep rack full of other BNC connectors very close together "

the tool is widely available in the appropriate places, and generally inexpensive.

[Jan McL]

OK - the BNC removal tool's in my cart @ B&H for next time I make a larger order. Sigh. Friderday @ 2A found cussing wasn't enough.

Not all sharkfins are built alike. The ALP 6--'s I finally broke down and got after trying a cheaper model that was ineffective relative to the SNA-600's at least, worked really well with the Zaxcom setup. They penetrated 3 old church thick walls and a floor from the cart outside at the ground floor to the basement, and allowed me to set up in the front yard for a back yard BBQ scene with 6 radios out. No line of sight.

-- Jan

[Marc Wielage]

That's the one -- the "BNC Removal Tool." (You'd think they could come up with a clever name, like the "BNC Un-screw-a-matic."

Usually, just pushing in and turning will do it, but when the BNC is jammed up on the flat side of the sharkfin -- or if the connector is a tiny bit bent... 

--Marc W.

[Dean Gudmundson]

Caveat - These tools don't play well with BNCs that have the rubber strain relief sleeves. As all mine seem to have. Can't get past sleeve to grab any skirt. I have two of them at different lengths and seems I end up using my clumbsy fingers old school.

Best,

Dean Gudmundson

Sent from my iPad -

Dean Gudmundson

shadowsnd@aol.com

[Marc Wielage]

Same here -- I'm using BNC cables with rubber boots. I just curse and mutter under my breath until I get them on. Generally, what happens is the connector gets stepped on or yanked, and you wind up having to replace it. But crimp-on BNCs are cheap, maybe a buck or two at most. Not a big deal. 

[jerryray]

Sugestion from 30 years at ABC RF department. Use a short (1 foot) RG223 Jumper from your coax to the antenna. Less strain on the connector, easier to handle and remove from the connector.

 

Worked for us...