Making coax cables to length is fairly easy when you have the right tools.
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All VSAT systems from Ground Control use high-grade Belden 1694A coax cable. The spool contains 300' feet, which should be enough to make one pair of 150' cables. |
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Cut off one end of the coax cable with wire cutters. Try to make the cut as clean as possible. |
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Locate the coax wire cutter / splicer. |
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Place the coax inside the splicer, in the widest, largest arch. Note where the red arrow shows the coax end to be FLUSH with the "V" notch in the coax splicer. |
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Place a finger in the hole of the coax splicer, and turn it around the cable 4 or 5 times, being sure to make complete circles. |
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WITHOUT OPENING THE SPLICER, pull it slowly and firmly away from the coax line. You should remove a segment of the coax cable shielding. You have made two cuts. 1 removes only the outer jacket, wile 2 cuts back all but the inner conductor. |
| If you're having trouble making perfect cuts, use the included allen wrench to tighten the two blade height screws. The numbers correspond to which blade does which cutting. |
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| Note here the allen wrench in one of the blade height adjustment screws, Blade #1, which cuts back only the outer jacket. |
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Once you have made your cut, fold back the wire shielding over the outer jacket, as shown. Make sure that the white plastic shielding that covers the center conductor is free of debris that may short out the connection. |
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Locate a snap connector. |
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Pull out the blue fitting in the bottom of the connector, and slide it over the outer jacket of the cable. |
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Twist the connector onto the Coax Cable, pushing gently ... |
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Until the white plastic shielding comes fully flush with the base of the connector, as shown. This is as far as the connector needs to be twisted on. Any further, and you risk damaging the cable. Not far enough, and the connector will be useless. |
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Cut off any excess length of the center conductor. It should be between 2.0 and 3.3 mm long, OUTSIDE the edge of the connector. |
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Slide the blue fitting up to the conductor. |
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The conductor is now ready to be placed into the coax crimping tool. |
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Carefully place the connector into the crimping tool slot as shown. Make the sure the crimper handles are fully open. |
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Insert the copper center of the coax into the barrel inside the crimper. Slide the connector fully onto the barrel. |
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Push on the coax cable, sliding it into the crimper. It should "click" into place. |
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The connector is now ready to be fully crimped into place. |
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Grip the handles and crimp firmly and "SNAP" the connector together. |
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Note how the blue fitting is now INSIDE the connector. |
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The Finished Connector, ready for use. |
