Question:Trimble Scout GPS ext antenna problem
 

The problem started when I cut the cable in half on accident. It's a
very small coaxial cable.

Question is, can you just solder it back and expect it to work OK?

Joe

Question:Trimble Scout GPS ext antenna problem
 

On Jul 9, 10:48 am, Joe wrote:
The problem started when I cut the cable in half on accident. It's a
very small coaxial cable.

Question is, can you just solder it back and expect it to work OK?

Joe



It will work so long as you maintain seperation of the shielding and
wire, BUT you might encounter some signal loss even with a good splice
or splicing joint, such as those sold at West Marine. Best thing is to
just try it.


RB
35s5
NY

Question:Trimble Scout GPS ext antenna problem
 

"Joe" wrote in message
ps.com...
The problem started when I cut the cable in half on accident. It's a
very small coaxial cable.

Question is, can you just solder it back and expect it to work OK?

Joe


Is the cable smaller than RG-174?

You can repair that small stuff, just keep it all circularly symmetric and
the ratios of the diameters the same. A more reliable repair would be to
place male and female connectors on the broken ends and rejoin them.

When I fix coax that small I use my Olympus laboratory grade stereo
microscope, Carl Zeiss reducer, Metcal or Pace full soldering/repair system
plus the finest solders and fluxes available. My soldering system costs more
than RB's home theater amplifier, the wire bonding machine and die placer
cost more than any 2 of his cars. Of course his telescope can't compare to
my national standard descending stage geologic microscope. I can sell it as
broken and buy two of his mass produced, consumer level telescopes.

The center conducotrs are very small and that cable is very, very lossy.
Your best bet would be to replace the cable with a larger diameter coax of
the same intrinsic impedance that has 100% shield. Is there a connector at
the antenna? If so, this is easy to do. If you need help, I can suggest a
cable for you. This company may be helpful too:

http://www.pasternack.com/category--...WIZARD-10.html


I find it amusing that RB needs ultra precision audio cables and performance
for acoustic signals at one volt levels and 30 Hz vibrations and yet it is
ok just to solder things together for microwave signals at levels of .000001
volts and 1,500,000,000 Hz vibrations. Amazing. But then you just can't read
about such things in a stereo review magazine or find reviews on the
internet.

Question:Trimble Scout GPS ext antenna problem
 

Joe wrote:

The problem started when I cut the cable in half on accident. It's a
very small coaxial cable.

Question is, can you just solder it back and expect it to work OK?

Joe

No. You should get a male and female UHF connector suitable for the
coax you cut, (find a local HAM and he'll be able to tell exactly which
connector will work best), install the new connector on the cut ends and
join the cable that way. You will still get a small loss but it won't be
too bad. DO NOT follow the Boobsters advice and just splice the thing
together like you were fixing a busted lamp cord.

Cheers
Marty
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Question:Trimble Scout GPS ext antenna problem
 

Bob Crantz wrote:

"Joe" wrote in message
ps.com...
The problem started when I cut the cable in half on accident. It's a
very small coaxial cable.

Question is, can you just solder it back and expect it to work OK?

Joe


Is the cable smaller than RG-174?

You can repair that small stuff, just keep it all circularly symmetric and
the ratios of the diameters the same. A more reliable repair would be to
place male and female connectors on the broken ends and rejoin them.

That's what I suggested too!

I find it amusing that RB needs ultra precision audio cables and performance
for acoustic signals at one volt levels and 30 Hz vibrations and yet it is
ok just to solder things together for microwave signals at levels of .000001
volts and 1,500,000,000 Hz vibrations. Amazing. But then you just can't read
about such things in a stereo review magazine or find reviews on the
internet.

Why do find it surprising? It's yet another example of The Boobster
knowing next to nothing about which he writes, but doing so profligately
anyway.

Cheers
Marty (Who has a Metcal sytem also, but uses Weller for run of the mill
work.)

Question:Trimble Scout GPS ext antenna problem
 

On Jul 9, 11:24 am, "Bob Crantz" wrote:
"Joe" wrote in message

ps.com...

The problem started when I cut the cable in half on accident. It's a
very small coaxial cable.

Question is, can you just solder it back and expect it to work OK?

Joe

Is the cable smaller than RG-174?

It looks like RG-174.. Can you get splice kits that small? It is hard
wired to the hummer top magnetic type antenna and the port snap.
(minus my cut)

Joe


You can repair that small stuff, just keep it all circularly symmetric and
the ratios of the diameters the same. A more reliable repair would be to
place male and female connectors on the broken ends and rejoin them.

When I fix coax that small I use my Olympus laboratory grade stereo
microscope, Carl Zeiss reducer, Metcal or Pace full soldering/repair system
plus the finest solders and fluxes available. My soldering system costs more
than RB's home theater amplifier, the wire bonding machine and die placer
cost more than any 2 of his cars. Of course his telescope can't compare to
my national standard descending stage geologic microscope. I can sell it as
broken and buy two of his mass produced, consumer level telescopes.

The center conducotrs are very small and that cable is very, very lossy.
Your best bet would be to replace the cable with a larger diameter coax of
the same intrinsic impedance that has 100% shield. Is there a connector at
the antenna? If so, this is easy to do. If you need help, I can suggest a
cable for you. This company may be helpful too:

http://www.pasternack.com/category--...WIZARD-10.html

I find it amusing that RB needs ultra precision audio cables and performance
for acoustic signals at one volt levels and 30 Hz vibrations and yet it is
ok just to solder things together for microwave signals at levels of .000001
volts and 1,500,000,000 Hz vibrations. Amazing. But then you just can't read
about such things in a stereo review magazine or find reviews on the
internet.

Question:Trimble Scout GPS ext antenna problem
 

Joe,

What kind of connector is at the radio end?

Question:Trimble Scout GPS ext antenna problem
 

On Jul 9, 12:42 pm, "Bob Crantz" wrote:
Joe,

What kind of connector is at the radio end?

A small gold snap.

Joe

Question:Trimble Scout GPS ext antenna problem
 

Joe,
I went to the Trimble website and they don't make the Scout anymore. They do
make some good equipment. If the antenna is a low cost one, I'd recommend
buying one from eBay.


If it is a precision antenna (costing several hundred dollars) I'd be
willing to repair the thing for you for free. I need to see pictures of the
case, a model number and a picture of the connector to see if it is
repairable.

http://www.trimble.com/gpsbc_bullet3.shtml

Is your antenna active? Does it have a built in ampifier?

http://www.thegpsstore.com/Antennas-Mounts-C41.aspx

http://www.antenex.com/index051206.htm

http://www.linxtechnologies.com/Products/Antennas/GPS/

Question:Trimble Scout GPS ext antenna problem
 

On Jul 9, 4:18 pm, "Bob Crantz" wrote:
Joe,
I went to the Trimble website and they don't make the Scout anymore. They do
make some good equipment. If the antenna is a low cost one, I'd recommend
buying one from eBay.


Yeah they have some nifty features. Seem the socuts were only sold to
the military.
I've been watching e-bay for some time and only see combo's..the GPS &
antenna and they run 4-500. The guy I got it from said he used it in
an up armoured hummer in Afganstan. It's just a round magnetic antenna
you would stick to the roof. I figured it has to be better than the
internal antenna.



If it is a precision antenna (costing several hundred dollars) I'd be
willing to repair the thing for you for free. I need to see pictures of the
case, a model number and a picture of the connector to see if it is
repairable.

Thanks for the offer, Ill try to solder it and see if that works..it
may not be much of an issue since my wheelhouse is not covered in
armor plate.

http://www.trimble.com/gpsbc_bullet3.shtml

Is your antenna active? Does it have a built in ampifier?

Not sure.

Joe


http://www.thegpsstore.com/Antennas-Mounts-C41.aspx

http://www.antenex.com/index051206.htm

http://www.linxtechnologies.com/Products/Antennas/GPS/