[Microwave] Clamping hardline to towers & water proofing (greasing) RF connectors

[Bill Janssen]

David Garnier wrote:

>Hello,
>
>Pardon my the cross postings, I have 2 questions
>concerning using hard-line coax, (attached it up
>tower structures and the moisture preparation of the
>RF connector mating surfaces.)
>
>1) How does one attached hard-line coax up a
>structure without causing problems due to it's weight?
>    a) Plastic tyraps don't seem like a good idea to
>use in cold weather due to plastic becoming "brittle"
>(for the lack of good terms.)
>    b) Metal hose clamps seem like a more positive
>clamping solution, however one could puncture the
>plastic/rubber coating and cause problems, (intermod.)
>    c) How about using a rubber gasketing around the
>hard-line (a short section garden hose slit lengthwise)
>for clamping to the tower?
>    c) What does the cellular industry use for clamping
>runs of hard-line up towers?
>    d) What in your experience has proven to work
>well?
>
>2) What are the pro's and con's of greasing mating
>hard-line coax connectors?
>    a) If one uses a grease, say Lithium or Permatrox,
>what does this do to the DC resistivity of the mating
>connectors?
>    b) Any thoughts about what this grease does at RF
>mating junctions?)
>    c) Dissimilar metals used in connector mating
>junctions, appears to be a problem in cellular industry.
>    d) Ever hear of "tweak" (a conductive substance
>that some audiophiles use on phono or line output
>jacks?
>    d) Black electrical tape doesn't like to stick to
>hard-line connectors if one is sloppy. ;-)
>
>In advance, thank you for taking time in writing me
>a response to these questions. Regards.
>
>dave garnier - wb9own
>
>
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>
>  
>
I have a "crank up" tower so my 7/8 inch hard line hangs from it's 
connector at the top.

So far it's been up a couple of years and no problems. I have a "basket 
weave" pulling
fixture that I intend to put on the upper end "some day"

The only water problem I have had was with the RG8 at the top of the tower.
I had tape on the RG8 connector that came loose. The hard line connector 
was OK.

Bill K7NOM