How to Attach Coaxial Cable Connectors

Working to fix my exterior TV antenna which was damaged during a recent storm and all was going fine and I had 14 channels until I decided to replace my 15 years old coaxial cable which was badly cracked in a few places. Either the cable I got is wrong or the way I attached the connectors on the ends. The 50 feet cable is white and has these long markings:

Globaltone TM r9-6 75 OHM Highperformance 3.0GHz Didital CATV Cable 18AWG 75 degree cETLus 4005889 CSA RISER FT6. Is this cable acceptable to connect an exterior TV antenna ?

Then I got a pack of 10 Crimp-On F connectors (they didn’t have the compression type). Looking on YouTube unfortunantly the instructions are not very clear. I do have the tool which you put the cable end on it and you turn the tool to make the 2 cuts on the cable but I have these questions:

How long should the copper wire sticking out from the end of the connector? 1/8”, 1/4" or 1/2" ? Is it important to be right on the dot?

Then the wire shielding which is at the top of the aluminum foil when I turn my tool it cuts all these litle wires off. Does it matter?

Thanks

 

CATV cable is slightly different than cable for an antenna. Your cable may work. If not, you still need RG-59 cable with a solid copper center conductor and a 95% copper shield (no foil). Some cheap cables use copper coated steel for the center conductor; I would avoid them.

The center conductor should be trimmed to 1/4". Sounds like your cable stripper is mis-adjusted; not important for occasional use. Use the stripper, a razor knife or box cutter to score a ring around the cable jacket, then flex the jacket until the jacket breaks at the score and pull it off.

Below is a rule-of-thumb for cable prep. Always use the measurements for the connector you are installing. Ideally, the center conductor should project just past the end of the installed connector.


Keep us updated!

 

badeyeben, thanks for the link, I had seen it before and it was helpful.

ThisOldMan, the picture you provided is all I needed, thanks. My center conductor is solid copper but the shield is aluminum foil. Now the installation is complete and it works.