Snipe 2 coax cables

[Two on Tour]

Our Snipe 2 arrived today, great bit of kit and tried it out free standing rather than fixing it straight on the roof to then find it was duff.
The one thing I'm going to struggle with when I come to install it, is loosing 2 lots of extra coax cable I don't need. I'll only need about 2.5 metres of each rather than the 12 metres supplied, so the question is does anybody stock or make up small diameter coax cables to suit ?

 

[DP+JAY]

Just left all the extra coiled up in the bottom of the wardrobe with ours.

 

[Two on Tour]

Just left all the extra coiled up in the bottom of the wardrobe with ours.

I'm going to struggle to loose 19 metres of cable with the cable routes I intend to use (all cable runs hidden), so not really an option for me.

 

[irnbru]

Remember to wire it to vehicle battery if you want it to self fold if you forget to put it away before moving off.

 

[ambulancekidd]

You can simply cut the cables in a convenient place & pop on new F connectors which are cheaply available on fleabay.

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[Two on Tour]

You can simply cut the cables in a convenient place & pop on new F connectors which are cheaply available on fleabay.

Problem is the Snipe 2 coax cables are 3.5mm diameter as opposed to the standard 7mm diameter satellite coax and I can not find any suitable for the 3.5mm.

Some of the satellite shotgun cable is a little over 4.5mm diameter so I may have to resort to splitting that into singles and use different entry glands on the roof to suit.

 

[tonyidle]

These any good?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-x-mini...198362?hash=item418c265bda:g:UDIAAOSw4CFYnZTQ

 

[Two on Tour]

Going back to the days many years ago when I was a CCTV installer, I have a feeling that the core on the Snipe coax is going to be a multi strand and not a solid core because the centre pin on the Snipe plug is not the single strand core as in RG6 coax F plugs and the like, but a manufactured pin as in a CCTV bnc plug.

I think I may have tracked down some plugs. I've ordered a couple and see what arrives.

They are a crimp type so I will have to hunt out my old crimping tool.

If the Snipe coax is single strand then I'll give the ones you found a try.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Problem is the Snipe 2 coax cables are 3.5mm diameter as opposed to the standard 7mm diameter satellite coax and I can not find any suitable for the 3.5mm.

Some of the satellite shotgun cable is a little over 4.5mm diameter so I may have to resort to splitting that into singles and use different entry glands on the roof to suit.

You can use standard F terminals with that cable If you have to. The trick is to cut it long and save the braided outer sheath to bulk up the diameter of the cable.

It’s obviously not ideal but it does work.

 

[irnbru]

If the Snipe coax is single strand then I'll give the ones you found a try.

Please keep us updated to your findings in the core strand.

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[irnbru]

I can now confirm the core is made up of one thick strand, its coaxial.

 

[TCG]

You can simply cut the cables in a convenient place & pop on new F connectors which are cheaply available on fleabay.

Sorry no you cannot --- i had the same problem as the OP, and asked the professional company that fitted my snipe 2 the same question can you not just chop off and reconnect - answer was no.
the two leads coming to and from the dish are not standard thickness coax, and allegedly there are no replacement f plugs of this size on the market.

If someone can prove me wrong i will be delighted as i have 10 metres of cable hidden in a cupboard

 

[irnbru]

We have done it. Granted we have a problem with ours but don’t think it’s the wire. Will keep you updated.

 

[irnbru]

We have done it. Granted we have a problem with ours but don’t think it’s the wire. Will keep you updated.

 

[Ranger]

If its coax can it be replaced with standard sized sat cable?

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[Deleted member 29692]

Sorry no you cannot --- i had the same problem as the OP, and asked the professional company that fitted my snipe 2 the same question can you not just chop off and reconnect - answer was no.
the two leads coming to and from the dish are not standard thickness coax, and allegedly there are no replacement f plugs of this size on the market.

If someone can prove me wrong i will be delighted as i have 10 metres of cable hidden in a cupboard

See post #9.

I've done it many many times over the years. It's not ideal but it does work.

The last time was rewiring the Sky installation on my own house because everything was in the wrong place.

Shotgun cable and standard F connectors. No problems at all

 

[TCG]

See post #9.

I've done it many many times over the years. It's not ideal but it does work.

The last time was rewiring the Sky installation on my own house because everything was in the wrong place.

Shotgun cable and standard F connectors. No problems at all

Umm.. my name is not billy bodgit, if it can't be done right, don't do it.... Sorry not having a pop, but each to their own

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Umm.. my name is not billy bodgit, if it can't be done right, don't do it.... Sorry not having a pop, but each to their own

You said "Sorry no you cannot" which is quite simply wrong.

You can and it works perfectly well.

Whether you think it's the "right" way or not is a completely separate question and pretty much irrelevant to the OP

 

[138go]

Having talked to Aztex Today and proving that our lead is faulty you can use any coax cable. They use the thin stuff because it's easier to route.

 

[Two on Tour]

Ok, I have a solution for shortening the coax cables and remaking the plug to the coax.

The Snipe coax outer cover is 3.6mm and available are F plugs to fit satellite shotgun coax (twin coax cable) and these plugs are quote to be 4mm.

These are the F plugs on eBay. Look to be the same as @tonyidle linked to. I used this UK supplier for the smaller sized F plug when I used shotgun coax on our last camper.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-Connec...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

Right, the method I have used is to cut the coax to the required length for your installation , slip on 2 length of heatshrink that will fit over the knurled section of the plug and that's about 2 to 3 times longer the the knurled section of the F plug.

Cut back the outer cover to twice the length of the F plug knurled section.

Fold the next layer, the mesh like strands back and over the outer cover coax cover to form a sort of ball about 5 or 6mm long,

now cut off the silver foil back to the mesh ball and discard.

Carefully cut back the white insulator without cutting into the copper core to about 2 to 3mm from the mesh ball,

The inner part of the F plug is threaded, so screw the F plug onto the mesh ball until the white insulator protrudes about 2mm clear of the F plug
inner face enough that the copper wire centre of the coax can not touch the sides of the hole it comes through and short out.

Now cut the copper wire centre of the coax to protrude past the end of the F plug about 3mm
If you have done this right then the F plug should be pretty secure on the cable,
but just to be sure shrink on the 2 layers of heatshrink to make sure everything stays in place.

I tried to do it another way with F plugs for RG174 cable but this did not work as well as the method above.

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[Two on Tour]

Having talked to Aztex Today and proving that our lead is faulty you can use any coax cable. They use the thin stuff because it's easier to route.

An alternative coax will have to be 50 ohm. Rf coax is 75 ohm and will not work.

 

[138go]

The solution of course is to use different cable. If it's a fixed installation it does not matter. I will be going down to screwfix and getting a couple of these.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/satellite-lead-f-plug-to-f-plug-5m/39644

The Controller Connection does not matter its just a signal wire with a screen. The other is different which is why I shall use the above.

 

[Two on Tour]

Don't you just love it when you try to help and all you get is people trying to shoot you down.

 

[138go]

When the Snipe was installed in our Pilote all the mass of cable got buried behind a cupboard. This was then removed and fitted to our Laika which is when I had the same problem as you. I like you looked at all the different options and then cut a piece out of the cable and spliced it back together with soldering iron and heat shrink. This has worked fine for 18 months.

I then found out that you can use any old bit of cable designed for satellite dish installation.

Anyway like your solution ..

Just a pity they don't tell you in the installation guide that you can use other cables ..

..

 

[irnbru]

Having talked to Aztex Today and proving that our lead is faulty you can use any coax cable. They use the thin stuff because it's easier to route.

Can you share what symptoms you had for Avtex to decide your lead is faulty. I am still trying to find out whats wrong with mine.

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[138go]

Can you share what symptoms you had for Avtex to decide your lead is faulty. I am still trying to find out whats wrong with mine.

It's a Snipe 2 and everything was working perfectly. Go to just outside Calais and decided to see if we could get a lock on Astra 2. Switched on and up went the ariel. After a couple of minutes I opened the roof skylight and it was just sitting there doing nothing. Pressed the Home button and the red light came on indicating the ariel was in its home position but it wasn't it was still stuck up in the air. Tried Home button again and still nothing. Disconnected it from the power waited a couple of minutes and tried again. Still nothing happening apart from RED Home light on. Removed from roof and returned home. Spoke to Importers who suggested try a new lead between Controller and ariel. Plugged in power and switched on. Head unit moved and returned to home position.

Yours may need the software updating someone mentioned they have changed something with the satellites.

 

[irnbru]

Thanks for the info @QFour. My system was updated and was working fine. Avtex have sent me a brand new update to try before calling them back on Monday.

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

Ok, I have a solution for shortening the coax cables and remaking the plug to the coax.

The Snipe coax outer cover is 3.6mm and available are F plugs to fit satellite shotgun coax (twin coax cable) and these plugs are quote to be 4mm.

These are the F plugs on eBay. Look to be the same as @tonyidle linked to. I used this UK supplier for the smaller sized F plug when I used shotgun coax on our last camper.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-Connector-Plugs-Screw-On-Small-Diameter-4mm-pack10/260685655940?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

Right, the method I have used is to cut the coax to the required length for your installation , slip on 2 length of heatshrink that will fit over the knurled section of the plug and that's about 2 to 3 times longer the the knurled section of the F plug.

Cut back the outer cover to twice the length of the F plug knurled section.
View attachment 195310

Fold the next layer, the mesh like strands back and over the outer cover coax cover to form a sort of ball about 5 or 6mm long,
View attachment 195312

now cut off the silver foil back to the mesh ball and discard.
View attachment 195315

Carefully cut back the white insulator without cutting into the copper core to about 2 to 3mm from the mesh ball,
View attachment 195316

The inner part of the F plug is threaded, so screw the F plug onto the mesh ball until the white insulator protrudes about 2mm clear of the F plug
inner face enough that the copper wire centre of the coax can not touch the sides of the hole it comes through and short out.
View attachment 195317

Now cut the copper wire centre of the coax to protrude past the end of the F plug about 3mm
If you have done this right then the F plug should be pretty secure on the cable,
but just to be sure shrink on the 2 layers of heatshrink to make sure everything stays in place.
View attachment 195323

I tried to do it another way with F plugs for RG174 cable but this did not work as well as the method above.

That is really neat installation. I did the same using the shotgun cable in the Sky installation in my house, but I did not use the heat shrink. It has been fine for a permanent static installation, but I guess my plugs may have worked loose in a moving MoHo. One other thought, in your 5th picture, it still looks like there is a chance of the core shorting to the plug, as the core wire is thinner than normal so could "kink" when being plugged in. If worried about this you could cut a 3mm length from a 7mm cable, strip it down to the insulator, then drill the insulator out so it slides over the narrow insulator.

Alternatively, the OP could terminate the snipe cable to a twin wall type faceplate like this one, then just use short cables to the receiver

 

[irnbru]

The Controller Connection does not matter its just a signal wire with a screen.

Please can you explain this a bit more. I "THINK" my black controller wire is working fine according to the manual (communication between controller and Satellite seems to be fine) And for this reason we haven't replaced or shortened this wire and only shortened the grey wire which we thought was faulty. Snipe was working fine until the wires were coiled up in beside boiler so my thinking was heat damage but no evidence.

The snipe will lock onto Eutel 5 and nothing else (no channels) despite a neighbour getting Astra 1 with the exact same version of snipe 2. With this in mind ,Is it possible the black lead could be faulty? Would it inhibit the ability to lock on?

 

[Lenny HB]

Please can you explain this a bit more. I "THINK" my black controller wire is working fine according to the manual (communication between controller and Satellite seems to be fine) And for this reason we haven't replaced or shortened this wire and only shortened the grey wire which we thought was faulty. Snipe was working fine until the wires were coiled up in beside boiler so my thinking was heat damage but no evidence.

Centre insulation on Co-Ax is polyethene with air gaps (smaller cable often don't have air gaps just a different grade of insulation), if it has got hot enough to soften the polyethene and the air gaps collapse or melt it, it will effect the capacity of the cable which will probably kill the signal, probably won't matter on the control cable.
I wouldn't have thought next to the boiler would have got hot enough, mine is comes in through the roof above the TecTower, that area gets hot, gets very hot with the grill on but the grill is too rubbish to bother using, so far so good.
Why not just get a couple of satellite fly leads and connet Snipe up with those just lashed up through the door or window that would prove if the cables are a problem.

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