Quality Coaxial Connections - The Key to Successful FTA Satellite Installations

Whenever I'm out and about and see a satellite dish, I often out of sheer curiosity take the liberty of inspecting the install. Installers in my area, for the most part, seem to do a fairly decent job - level mounts, proper grounding, beautiful drip loops, and the use of grommets when penetrating structures. Upon closer inspection, however, I often find that many tend to overlook one of the most important aspects of the installation - proper coaxial connections. Improper connections by the professional installer can earn him a go-back, or worse, an irate customer. A do-it-yourself free-to-air hobbyist can pull his hair out wondering why he's not getting a signal if he inadvertently cuts the center conductor of his coax too short. A proper connection is paramount to a successful, trouble-free FTA satellite installation.

There are 4 things in particular that need to be emphasized in order to insure good coaxial connections when installing your FTA satellite system:

Proper cable preparationQuality fittingsThe use of a thread sealantProper tightening of the fitting

Proper cable preparation starts with insuring the coax is cut clean and square. A few coaxial strippers or "prep tools", whichever term you prefer, have a stop device to ensure that the cable is inserted just the right amount, allowing the correct length of center conductor to be exposed when cut. Squaring the cable beforehand allows it to butt straight against the stop making a cleaner and more accurate cut. Be sure not to spin the prep tool too many times around the coax. Doing so often times causes pieces of braid to wrap around the center conductor. If left unnoticed, this will cause a dead short. This can damage your FTA receiver.

Using quality fittings is a must. Stay away from crimp-type f-connectors. They are not weather-proof, are usually of lower quality, and often times easily pull off of the end of the coax. Opt for a compression type fitting instead. These cost a little more but will make the difference between a good or substandard connection. Also, be sure to use the correct compression tool to compress the fitting onto the cable. When done, check to make sure there are no irregularities such as a bent connector or a cracked plastic sleeve. Inspect the center conductor to ensure it doesn't protrude too far beyond the fitting. It should be flush with the connector or just slightly beyond. A center conductor that is too long on a fitting will damage the connection it is attached to.

The use of silicone grease or Teflon f-connector compound on the threads will provide a barrier to moisture, preventing corrosion down the road. With your finger, wipe a very small amount onto the threads of your ground block, lnbf, switch, or any other outdoor connection you may have. DO NOT overuse grease. Allowing grease to come in contact with the center conductor will cause problems rather than benefit. Keep it on the threads. A small amount will get enough grease distributed around the threads as you spin the connector.

Lastly, a good coaxial connection must be a tight one. I often see finger-tight connections outdoors. This is improper and may allow moisture into the fitting. Always use a wrench to snug connections. Different manufacturers recommend different torque specifications for their fittings. Honestly, I wouldn't go out and buy a torque wrench to tighten a few fittings. Just use a regular 7/16" open-end wrench but be sure not to over-tighten your connections, especially on your lnbf, as you could cause permanent damage. Simply snug it with your wrench just enough that you can't remove it with your finger. That should be sufficient for a moisture-proof connection. It is not necessary to use a wrench indoors on your wall plates, etc., and NEVER use a wrench on your receiver.

It only takes one bad connection to prevent your FTA satellite system from working properly. But by following these guidelines on your next FTA satellite system installation, you should have quality, trouble-free connections that will last a long time.