What RG6 connectors do I need?

[mikestock]

I have a roll of double insulated RG6 and a big supply of black connectors. I have a stripper similar to professional installers and the compression tool. My problem is that I can't get the connectors pushed in place without 30 minutes of pushing and twisting.

The black connector package says they are for double insulated RG6 but that can't be. Can anyone help me determine what color connectors I need to buy? I am developing arthritis in my fingers and this twisting and pushing isn't helping.

[hilke40]

Purchase the black PPC universal connector for all types of RG6. They slide on easy and still lock tight. Some Lowes carry them under the Belden name, but thy will still have PPC on them.

[Gdetrailer]

mikestock wrote:
Back in the old days, I prepared the tips with a knife and peeled the shields back, before pushing the connector on. I used two pairs of pliers to compress the connectors. I have since acquired the stripper and compressing tools and after watching the pros I stopped peeling the braid back. That's when it became so difficult. I peeled the braid and foil shields back on the last couple I did and it was much easier. Don't know why this never dawned on me before. I always use a VOM to check my jumpers before using them.

You should be able to leave the foil next to the center in place, just pull back the weaved wire shield and things will work out..

Follow the PDF instructions I linked in one of my posts above, they are from a connector manufacturer and they should know the correct way..

Many "pro's" don't do it correctly, they are trying to cut corners anyway they can to get the job done quickly.. Might work OK but not done correctly..

And yes, I was taught by a Sat installer how to use a pocket knife to properly prep the end, often works better than the coax strippers and with practice can do it faster than trying to wrap that coax stripper around the wire..

Coax strippers sometimes are a hit or miss and you end up having to redo it several times.

[mikestock]

Back in the old days, I prepared the tips with a knife and peeled the shields back, before pushing the connector on. I used two pairs of pliers to compress the connectors. I have since acquired the stripper and compressing tools and after watching the pros I stopped peeling the braid back. That's when it became so difficult. I peeled the braid and foil shields back on the last couple I did and it was much easier. Don't know why this never dawned on me before. I always use a VOM to check my jumpers before using them.

[Gdetrailer]

mikestock wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:
You have the wrong connectors for your coax.

Center of the F connector will slide easily over the center insulation of the coax.

Sounds like you have RG-59 connectors as the center insulation of RG-59 is smaller than RG-6 and the center diameter of the F connector is much smaller for RG-59 and will not fit correctly if at all.

Not sure where you buying them but places I have bought from do not use colors..

You can buy some crimp RG-6 connectors at Home Depot HERE which should fit RG-6 Double and Quad shield since it is rated for Both (.175" for Quad and .183" for Double shield).

Center conductor range: all
Dielectric diameter range: 0.175 in. to 0.183 in.
Outer jacket diameter range: 0.254 in. to 0.278 in.

I can't honestly remember if I got them at Lowes or Home Depot but I had a jar full and same finely about out. I know they're not for RG59 although I have used them for that indoors. They are sloppy on the outer diameter. I know the colors of the plastic sleeves have a meaning but I apparently don't know what is what. I have a few that are all metal but they seem to offer the same difficulty as the black ones. Maybe I'm just getting weaker. I'll be glad to post the results with the purple ones.

I have an extended family member, that I see occasionally, who runs a contracting company for DirecTV and several cable companies. If I can remember, next time I see him I will try to get an education.

If the center is too tight, the connector must be RG-59 OR designed for Quad RG-6 ONLY.

As I mentioned before, Quad shield RG-6 actually has a smaller diameter center insulation but the overall outside jacket is slightly larger.

I have run into this when I ran into a good deal on a 1000ft box of Quad shield RG-6 and I noticed the center insulation fit rather sloppy/loose inside the connector.. Doesn't hurt anything, just wasn't what I would have expected as I was used to the normal fit of Double shielded RG-6.

I did get some connectors specifically for Quad shield after the fact and those will not fit over Double shielded RG-6 unless you cut the center insulation down some.. But you can't cut the insulation down under the outside jacket and you have to brute force it on from there.

[mikestock]

Gdetrailer wrote:
You have the wrong connectors for your coax.

Center of the F connector will slide easily over the center insulation of the coax.

Sounds like you have RG-59 connectors as the center insulation of RG-59 is smaller than RG-6 and the center diameter of the F connector is much smaller for RG-59 and will not fit correctly if at all.

Not sure where you buying them but places I have bought from do not use colors..

You can buy some crimp RG-6 connectors at Home Depot HERE which should fit RG-6 Double and Quad shield since it is rated for Both (.175" for Quad and .183" for Double shield).

Center conductor range: all
Dielectric diameter range: 0.175 in. to 0.183 in.
Outer jacket diameter range: 0.254 in. to 0.278 in.

I can't honestly remember if I got them at Lowes or Home Depot but I had a jar full and same finely about out. I know they're not for RG59 although I have used them for that indoors. They are sloppy on the outer diameter. I know the colors of the plastic sleeves have a meaning but I apparently don't know what is what. I have a few that are all metal but they seem to offer the same difficulty as the black ones. Maybe I'm just getting weaker. I'll be glad to post the results with the purple ones.

I have an extended family member, that I see occasionally, who runs a contracting company for DirecTV and several cable companies. If I can remember, next time I see him I will try to get an education.

[wnjj]

Gdetrailer wrote:

mikestock wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:
Move your stripper back a 1/4" on the wire and strip off more than you need. This allows you to have much more center conductor protrude when connector is fully installed. Once satisfied and crimped, you cut some of the extra unneeded length off at an slight angle. This should allow about 1/8" to stick out of the connector when finished and makes insertion of connector much easier.

I have plenty of the center wire exposed. I just have a hard time pushing the interior insulation through the hole. I have no direct way to measure the inside hole diameter. The interior insulated insulation will eventually go through with enough pushing and twisting. The best way, as said is to grip the hex in my bench vice and grip the coax with pliers and put all my weight behind it.

I have ordered 50 purple connectors. I think I have had one or two odd purple connectors over the years, that worked better. We'll see.

You have the wrong connectors for your coax.

Center of the F connector will slide easily over the center insulation of the coax.

Sounds like you have RG-59 connectors as the center insulation of RG-59 is smaller than RG-6 and the center diameter of the F connector is much smaller for RG-59 and will not fit correctly if at all.

Not sure where you buying them but places I have bought from do not use colors..

You can buy some crimp RG-6 connectors at Home Depot HERE which should fit RG-6 Double and Quad shield since it is rated for Both (.175" for Quad and .183" for Double shield).

Center conductor range: all
Dielectric diameter range: 0.175 in. to 0.183 in.
Outer jacket diameter range: 0.254 in. to 0.278 in.

HERE is proper installation instructions in a PDF.

The ones I used that worked well were the Klein tools ones. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-Universal-F-Compression-Connector-for-RG6-6Q-50-Pack-VDV812-... but any decent one that's the right size should work.

[Gdetrailer]

mikestock wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:
Move your stripper back a 1/4" on the wire and strip off more than you need. This allows you to have much more center conductor protrude when connector is fully installed. Once satisfied and crimped, you cut some of the extra unneeded length off at an slight angle. This should allow about 1/8" to stick out of the connector when finished and makes insertion of connector much easier.

I have plenty of the center wire exposed. I just have a hard time pushing the interior insulation through the hole. I have no direct way to measure the inside hole diameter. The interior insulated insulation will eventually go through with enough pushing and twisting. The best way, as said is to grip the hex in my bench vice and grip the coax with pliers and put all my weight behind it.

I have ordered 50 purple connectors. I think I have had one or two odd purple connectors over the years, that worked better. We'll see.

You have the wrong connectors for your coax.

Center of the F connector will slide easily over the center insulation of the coax.

Sounds like you have RG-59 connectors as the center insulation of RG-59 is smaller than RG-6 and the center diameter of the F connector is much smaller for RG-59 and will not fit correctly if at all.

Not sure where you buying them but places I have bought from do not use colors..

You can buy some crimp RG-6 connectors at Home Depot HERE which should fit RG-6 Double and Quad shield since it is rated for Both (.175" for Quad and .183" for Double shield).

Center conductor range: all
Dielectric diameter range: 0.175 in. to 0.183 in.
Outer jacket diameter range: 0.254 in. to 0.278 in.

HERE is proper installation instructions in a PDF.

[mikestock]

Gdetrailer wrote:
Move your stripper back a 1/4" on the wire and strip off more than you need. This allows you to have much more center conductor protrude when connector is fully installed. Once satisfied and crimped, you cut some of the extra unneeded length off at an slight angle. This should allow about 1/8" to stick out of the connector when finished and makes insertion of connector much easier.

I have plenty of the center wire exposed. I just have a hard time pushing the interior insulation through the hole. I have no direct way to measure the inside hole diameter. The interior insulated insulation will eventually go through with enough pushing and twisting. The best way, as said is to grip the hex in my bench vice and grip the coax with pliers and put all my weight behind it.

I have ordered 50 purple connectors. I think I have had one or two odd purple connectors over the years, that worked better. We'll see.

[wnjj]

mikestock wrote:
When I watch the pros fit these they don't do anything extra with the braid. I have tried folding it back but it doesn't seem to help much, if at all.

Hmm. Maybe I did it wrong, but I did several of these on quad shield last year and folded both braids and both foil layers back so only the white center was showing. They only lightly drag when sliding into the connector. The center of the connector is barely larger than the white center insulator.

If you don’t fold it back I suspect all of the force is just wadding up the foil and braids into a ball.

[Gdetrailer]

mikestock wrote:

Tom_M wrote:
The OP claims he has "double insulated". I assume he meant double shielded. The stripper should expose 1/4 inch of center conductor and strip a 1/4 inch of the outer jacket which leaves one foil shield and one braided shield. Fan the braid back so that it folds over the outer jacket. Do a search on YouTube for videos on how to attach F type compression connectors if you are still having problems.

He (I) have a single layer of braid over, what looks like, a layer of aluminum foil. I guess that's double shielded. When I use my little stripper tool it looks beautiful. Then the battle begins. Once I get the stinger exposed beyond the threaded part the battle is over. The compressing part is a snap.

Make sure the diameter of the center of the connector is the correct size. That center should be just large enough to slide over the wire center insulation, if center is too big it will make it nearly impossible to push under the outside jacket.

If too small you would have to trim down the center insulation and be nearly impossible to fit under the outside jacket.

Something else to try, warm up the coax with a hair drier, not so hot to burn yourself, you only want to get just above room temp.. Some jackets get pretty stiff when cold making connector installation near impossible..

The center of the connector must go under the jacket so it displaces the shielding and stretches outside jacket.

Have done a lot of cold weather connector installations back in the late 80s with big C band dishes.. Connectors don't go on very easy at 32F or below had to warm up the coax to make the job easier..

Something else to consider, All in one coax strippers tend to strip back a bit short as far as how much center conductor comes out of the connector when done.

Move your stripper back a 1/4" on the wire and strip off more than you need. This allows you to have much more center conductor protrude when connector is fully installed. Once satisfied and crimped, you cut some of the extra unneeded length off at an slight angle. This should allow about 1/8" to stick out of the connector when finished and makes insertion of connector much easier.

I have a couple of those strippers around, I don't use them, I just use a pocket knife and eyeball it, works better for me.

[mikestock]

Tom_M wrote:
The OP claims he has "double insulated". I assume he meant double shielded. The stripper should expose 1/4 inch of center conductor and strip a 1/4 inch of the outer jacket which leaves one foil shield and one braided shield. Fan the braid back so that it folds over the outer jacket. Do a search on YouTube for videos on how to attach F type compression connectors if you are still having problems.

He (I) have a single layer of braid over, what looks like, a layer of aluminum foil. I guess that's double shielded. When I use my little stripper tool it looks beautiful. Then the battle begins. Once I get the stinger exposed beyond the threaded part the battle is over. The compressing part is a snap.

[mikestock]

My compressor is adjustable. I also have one of the automatic trimmers that just take a few twists around the finger. I never have a problem with the compressing. It's just a major battle getting the coax shoved in place. I usually, if at home, place the hex into my bench vice and use pliers and my whole body to force the coax in place. As I said, I have a bunch of connectors with black plastic sleeves that I thought were the correct ones. I have most of a 1000' roll of coax and want to order a whole bunch of connectors that fit.

When I watch the pros fit these they don't do anything extra with the braid. I have tried folding it back but it doesn't seem to help much, if at all.

[wnjj]

Tom_M wrote:
The OP claims he has "double insulated". I assume he meant double shielded. The stripper should expose 1/4 inch of center conductor and strip a 1/4 inch of the outer jacket which leaves one foil shield and one braided shield. Fan the braid back so that it folds over the outer jacket. Do a search on YouTube for videos on how to attach F type compression connectors if you are still having problems.

I suspect the braid/foil isn’t fanned back correctly. That part is tedious and painful but must be done before attempting the crimp. Once prepped, the cable should slide into the connector with no resistance.

[Tom_M1]

The OP claims he has "double insulated". I assume he meant double shielded. The stripper should expose 1/4 inch of center conductor and strip a 1/4 inch of the outer jacket which leaves one foil shield and one braided shield. Fan the braid back so that it folds over the outer jacket. Do a search on YouTube for videos on how to attach F type compression connectors if you are still having problems.