chpalmer wrote:
TechnoWeenie wrote:
195 is a 'high performance rg58'... IOTW, similar to RG8X...
Closest would be an FME NMO mount...If you don't wanna solder...
Again... You're talking about paying for a pre-made cable vs making a better one yourself, at a fraction of the cost of premade.
Cheaper, and better..
I'm not sure what your argument is?
See- I already knew you were going to say that. Ill do my test with that kit and also pctel mlfml 195 and post those results. My point is what you're going to see and what you seem to believe are two very different things.
Thanks Badger! Ive found the same thing. Ive seen many installs where someone thought they could solder and it looked like crap. Ive also tested a couple that were installed and soldered and found them dead shorted. Reason I was there is the customer didn't trust the other shop any longer.
This thread is actually going better than Id hoped.
Nothing will get around shitty work or bad habits. Anyone who doesn't test their shit, isn't worth hiring...
To compare a shitty solder job done by some guy who clearly doesn't give a shit about his work, and obviously didn't test it, and using that as an example to 'always buy factory', is disingenuous at best.
In most situations, using a factory cable is the best route. It's easy, comes preassembled, and is the better all around option.
That's NOT to say it's the only option, or the best option, just usually the all around better choice in most scenarios.
You do what you do, I do what I do...
I choose to make my own cables for my personal installs.
For gov't installs, that's a bit different, as they usually specify a certain cable/mount, which is usually RG58... I do try to use RG8X cables/mounts where I can, but again, it depends on the system.
If they have a system with 96% portable coverage, then I'm not gonna worry about 2db loss on a 30W radio with a mounted antenna when a 3W radio with a dummy load for its antenna can still utilize the system.
If they're running simplex or semi-duplex non repeated base/mobile, then the difference between 85W and 75W COULD be the difference between being heard, and not.
Yes, only 1 or 2 db..
This has become a shitfest.. I'm not saying MY way is the only way, I'm just saying it's what I do...
Thank you for testing those cable assemblies, and I could probably submit one or 2 of the self soldered, and one of the FME base as well, if you don't already have something similar.
For the record, I do plan on picking up some FME base NMO mounts.. Should be easier to crimp an FME than solder those SOBs.. :D
I have my M1031 that has to be wired up, so it'll be fun..