How many of you built your own cables?

[muse77]

bpape wrote:

I need some new AC cords and refuse to pay the outrageous prices some of the companies get.
Bryan

Newark has shielded cordsets for about $14.00

A different Bryan

[infrasonics]

I've made plenty of cables, mainly using Belden 1694A with Canare RCA's and F connectors. I invested in the expensive Canare crimps and dies, and while they were not cheap I more than made up for it by constructing many sets of cables. My time was cheap, considering I did the cable construction while watching videos/TV. I like the ability to make the correct length and personal color coding of the boots/shrink wrap.

[Prof.]

Names like Belden and Canare cost an arm and a leg here..particularly when you need to have a number of 10M..runs..
I had never tried making my own cables before, but since my present setup required long runs, I decided to give it a try..
Always looking for the easiest way, I bought a roll of RG6 quad shield and a number of "twist on" F type connectors to RCA plugs..
Couldn't have been easier..The twist-ons require a bit of elbow grease, but once on they really hang on..and of course no crimping tool required..
I can't imagine any commercial cable would perform any better over that distance..

[bpape]

Your call - but I'd personally never use the twist ons. I want a SOLID, TIGHT, PERMANENT connection - which the twists aren't. The diff in price between that and the Belden/Canare combo - even with tools when doing lots of long runs is trivial in the grand scheme of things.

Bryan

[Prof.]

Well I guess I'm a bit of a miser at heart..If I can save a few bucks here and a few bucks there, and not suffer for it, then that's the general road I take..

But seriously (and I'm not calling Shirley!) do you think you are getting any better video quality, using those brand names than what I'm getting with my ghetto cables?

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

I used twist-on F-connectors back before I got a good crimper. They’re still in my system, ten years later. They will work fine for coaxial cable, as long as they’re installed on the cable properly, and as long as you know and respect their limitations.

First, I’ve had them fail when used in attics. So avoid that. Apparently they don’t do well with the constant changes in humidity and temperature (although I have no explanation why crimped connections wouldn’t have the same problem).

Second, I’ve seen them fail in situations where the connection is handled a lot. If you’re say, an equipment reviewer who’s always shuffling new gear in and out of your system, you should probably avoid using twist-on F-connectors.

Aside from that, they work fine in “set it and forget it” installations, such as in-wall cable TV outlets, and even in an equipment rack that’s only occasionally disturbed.

With any coaxial cable, proper installation of the F connector is what makes or breaks it. If the connection is bad, it’s usually apparently immediately, visibly, on the screen.

Prof. wrote:

But seriously (and I'm not calling Shirley!) do you think you are getting any better video quality, using those brand names than what I'm getting with my ghetto cables?

The only concern I have about your installation, is the quadshield you used. Really, quadshield is only needed if you happen to live in really close proximity to a high-powered broadcast tower. I guess extra protection never hurts, but from what I understand RG-6QS typically has a steel center conductor that’s copper plated. That’s fine for the RF signals the stuff was made for, and it probably isn’t affecting your installation one way or the other, but personally I just prefer solid copper for my audio and video signals. I generally prefer RG-59 mainly because it’s more flexible and easier to work with, and works just as well as RG-6 for line-level video signals.

Regards,
Wayne

[bpape]

Agree with what Wayne said. I've used them OK for pretty permanent things and for usage like a secondary cable TV hookup, etc. For my RGBHV, HD component video, SPDIF audio, etc - I'll stay with the crimp ons.

If they'll fail as outlined above, then even in less strenuous situations, there will be a less tight connection that can allow air/moisture/corrosion to begin which is the bane of any signal that counts on impedance.

Bryan

[Prof.]

Wayne A. Pflughaupt wrote:

I used twist-on F-connectors back before I got a good crimper. They’re still in my system, ten years later. They will work fine for coaxial cable, as long as they’re installed on the cable properly, and as long as you know and respect their limitations.

I totally agree and they can be a problem if not connected properly..My first attempt failed after following the advice that was given by the person that sold them to me..

After trying different ways of twisting them on, I found the right way of making the connection, and after repeatedly trying to pull them off again, could not budge them, so I figured that even if I did have to remove them from the equipment from time to time, they would be ok..

Wayne A. Pflughaupt wrote:

The only concern I have about your installation, is the quadshield you used. Really, quadshield is only needed if you happen to live in really close proximity to a high-powered broadcast tower. I guess extra protection never hurts, but from what I understand RG-6QS typically has a steel center conductor that’s copper plated. That’s fine for the RF signals the stuff was made for, and it probably isn’t affecting your installation one way or the other, but personally I just prefer solid copper for my audio and video signals. .

I have major power lines that pass out the front of my place, so the RG6-QS is almost a must..

Wayne A. Pflughaupt wrote:

I generally prefer RG-59 mainly because it’s more flexible and easier to work with, and works just as well as RG-6 for line-level video signals..

This is one thing I do find annoying with the RG-6..You just can't make tight bends with it..But all of my connections are behind the screen wall (except for the projector) so no one sees them...

I would prefer to use RG-59 particularly for the leads to the projector, but I don't know if they would give me sufficient protection from interference..

[Prof.]

bpape wrote:

If they'll fail as outlined above, then even in less strenuous situations, there will be a less tight connection that can allow air/moisture/corrosion to begin which is the bane of any signal that counts on impedance.

Bryan..I had to use pliers to screw these things on..I don't think their going to move anytime soon...
What I did find is that not all RG-6 cable is the same diameter, so if it's not matched up to the twist on, then I agree, it's not going to be a solid connection..

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

I have major power lines that pass out the front of my place, so the RG6-QS is almost a must..

That shouldn’t matter at all as far as having to use quadshield. EMI is only a problem if the electrical and signal cables are right up against each other (parallel) for a considerable distance.

Actually, I’m surprised you could find some twist-ons for QS... Maybe that’s why you had to use pliers to get them on? That shouldn’t have been necessary.

bpape wrote:

If they'll fail as outlined above, then even in less strenuous situations, there will be a less tight connection that can allow air/moisture/corrosion to begin which is the bane of any signal that counts on impedance.

Well – ten years I’ve been using these, and I live in Houston. Not many places more humid that this! Air conditioning helps, I suppose. Not sure how moisture and corrosion can be issues with an indoor installation.

Regards,
Wayne

[Prof.]

Wayne A. Pflughaupt wrote:

Actually, I’m surprised you could find some twist-ons for QS... Maybe that’s why you had to use pliers to get them on? That shouldn’t have been necessary.

Wayne...The Belden cable was too big a diameter to fit the twist-ons, and I had to use a local brand of cable that was slightly smaller..Even then it was a tight fit...

While we're on the subject of video cables..one thing that I have always wondered is if the copper clad steel cored RG-6 cable has an impedance of 75 ohms..how can the solid copper core type still have the same impedance? Isn't video source equipment supposed to be matched to 75 ohm cable?

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

Prof. wrote:

While we're on the subject of video cables..one thing that I have always wondered is if the copper clad steel cored RG-6 cable has an impedance of 75 ohms..how can the solid copper core type still have the same impedance? Isn't video source equipment supposed to be matched to 75 ohm cable?

Actually, coaxial was designed for RF signals, not line-level video signals. It just happens to also be highly suitable for video. (It works great with audio, too.) We just prefer copper because it’s a better conductor for electrical signals. I also prefer that the shield be copper, too, but that can be difficult to find.

The center conductor really has nothing to do with the cable’s 75-ohm rating. As far as I know, that has more to do with the construction of the cable, but I’m not sure exactly what. I’ve seen 75-ohm-rated coax in a variety of center conductor metals.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

[bpape]

Wayne.

Do a long term experiment. Take a pc of speaker wire and strip off a couple of inches of the jacket and just let it lay in a box somwhere in the house. Go back in a year and cut off an inch off the other end and strip that back a couple inches. Look at the difference. Moisture, corrosion (more correctly oxidation) are absolutely issues in a home. In your case (Houston) you're actually probably better than most since you likely run the AC more (which has a dehumidifying effect)

Bryan

[FlashJim]

Wayne, we might have to have a cable makin' party sometime. I'd love to see how it's done.

[wig]

Wayne what kind of beer do I need to bring?

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

LOL - Scott, it would be hot by the time you get here! Just as well – ice tea’s my brew.

Jim, I’m working on a “How to solder DIY cables” thread that I hope to have up next month. But you’re welcome anytime for a lesson. Basically, if you can do intricate work with your hands and have a keen eye for detail, you should be able to solder.

Regards,
Wayne

[Sonnie]

Wayne A. Pflughaupt wrote:

Just as well – ice tea’s my brew.

And he drinks about 2 gallons a day... NO.... I'm not kidding!

Wayne did a fine job on the cables he built for me... he could definitely hold a class on how to build them...

[blownrx7]

A while back I made a set of 15ft component cables using DH Labs Silver Sonic video cable and some decent connectors (can't remember the brand). Nowadays, I would go with the bluejeanscables.com or the premium monoprice.com video cables.
I came to the realization that there is a lot of hype with cables. I do feel a good quality connector is often the determining factor in cable performance.

[wig]

Wayne the Red diamond ice tea is the best.or maybe a long island. WIG

[Jerm357]

I made a RCA to 1/4 mono subwoofer cable from an old monster cable and Cardas parts from http://www.diycable.com/

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

Well done, Jerm! Gotta love that color!