I used coax seal once and did not like it. I found Scotch 2228
Moisture Sealing Electrical Tape - Professional Grade (from 3M) to be
much better than Coax Seal. Stretch it as you wrap it with overlapping
wraps and it will stick to itself (but is not sticky). Then I use Scotch
88 over the 2228.
I have also tried a section of heat shrink tubing over the connectors as
a first layer, then a layer of 2228, followed by a layer of 88. The heat
shrink did NOT contain any sealant. It seemed to work but I only have a
sample size of one attempt. Each layer over wrapped the previous
layer. The difficult part was getting the heat shrink to shrink outside
in cold weather.
I have never had issues with the removal of Scotch 88. I have though
with other brands of cheap electrical tape. You get what you pay for.
If you want you can cover the 88 with Scotchkote too. it comes in a
16oz can with an applicator in the lid. Brush it over the over tape.
It is rather expensive and can be messy to apply. The can I had
eventually dried out and I stopped using it.
Chuck K9LC
On 4/22/2025 5:37 AM, n4zkf n4zkf.com wrote:
Used color as well. When mapping a tower, 100’, 300’ or 1500’ you need to know
what coax goes where. Color codes and the number of bands each color has helps. On cell towers it
tells you what sector they are for at the equipment inside. Same a ham. What antenna.
Scotch 33 does a fine job. When you use butyl as a coax seal and don’t put a
“courtesy” wrap as Steve mentioned you may as well just cut the coax or hardline off rather
than trying to get to the connector. It sticks so well it’s a pain. With a wrap of scotch, you can
just slice all the way down to the connector and peel it off.
Dave n4zkf
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces@contesting.com> on behalf of W7TMT - Patrick
<W7TMT@outlook.com>
Date: Monday, April 21, 2025 at 12:57 PM
To: John Webster NN1SS <nn1ssnh@gmail.com>, Chuck Dietz <w5prchuck@gmail.com>,
towertalk@contesting.com <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Sealing Coax Connections
The Scotch branded colored tapes I buy and use for color coding electrical
wires/cables for marine use is type 35. Its about the same thickness as 33 but
has a slightly less aggressive adhesive and has less stretch as well. Still a
high-quality tape but it doesn't seem to be the same as 33 from my experience.
Just my observation of course.
73
Patrick, W7TMT
-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces@contesting.com> On Behalf Of John Webster
NN1SS
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2025 09:40
To: Chuck Dietz <w5prchuck@gmail.com>; towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Sealing Coax Connections
Yes. Scotch 33. I typically find it at hardware stores or the big box home
improvement stores in the same place where they keep the Scotch 88.
The point is to reduce the heat that could transfer to underlying connectors in
the summer (I live in NH) and preserve the integrity of the weather seal. YMMV
but it works for me.
John
NN1SS
On Mon, Apr 21, 2025 at 12:13 PM Chuck Dietz <w5prchuck@gmail.com> wrote:
White Scotch 33?
Chuck W5PR
On Mon, Apr 21, 2025 at 10:46 AM n4zkf n4zkf.com <n4zkf@n4zkf.com> wrote:
You got that right! If you ever want to get it off again when using
Butyl.
David Calder
n4zkf@n4zkf.com
www.n4zkf.com<http://www.n4zkf.com>
Dxc.n4zkf.com port:7373<dxc.n4zkf.com:7373> n4zkf/r 147.375 MHz Tone
103.5
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces@contesting.com> on behalf of
Steve Maki <lists@oakcom.org>
Date: Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 11:44 PM
To: towertalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Sealing Coax Connections In any case, one
must use a "courtesy" wrap under the nuclear stuff to avoid loud
swearing in the future.
Scotch 33 or 88 works OK for that, but the best courtesy wrap is a
layer of silicone tape.
-Steve K8LX
On 04/19/25 4:29 PM, Steve Jones wrote:
Interesting...I use the exact opposite procedure. I first wrap
the connector with Scotch 88, with a little fold at the end for
easy
unwrapping.
Then cover everything with the self-fusing Coax Seal. If I need
to get
to
the connector, I scrape the sticky stuff away from the little
fold,
then
unwrap everything off to reveal a shiny clean connector.
73,
Steve
N6SJ
-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk<towertalk-bounces@contesting.com> On Behalf Of Jim
Brown
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2025 10:56 PM To:towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Sealing Coax Connections
On 4/18/2025 3:12 PM, Brian Beezley wrote:
Has anyone tried this method?:
https://tinyurl.com/mr3n2htx
Neighbor W6GJB and I, who have worked together on antennas for
10-15
years,
have tried a lot of methods. I've used heat shrink selectively to
solve specific problems, but not to cover connections completely.
One of the issues with any connection is that we often need to
open
them
up
to change something, or to troubleshoot an issue. The method we
settled
on
some years ago is to first wrap the connection with a self-fusing
silicone
product like Rescue Tape, then cover it with an overlapped wrap of
Scotch 88
to protect it both physically and from UV.
If we need to open up the connection, we can simply unwrap the 88,
then slice the silicone with a knife or razor blade.
This method has worked quite well for us. We do a lot of portable
operation
in Glen's contesting trailer
k9yc.com/7QP.pdf
and both of us live in the Santa Cruz Mountains, with a lot of
antennas rigged high in redwoods that experience storm damage,
every winter. And
also
receiving antennas -- I have two 550 ft long reversible Beverages
and a
pair
of phased VE3DO loops. We've figured out rigging pretty well
-- after losing a couple of 120 ft high dipoles in 2006-7, the
only
ones
I've lost since were three that were supported on one end by a 200
ft Douglas Fir whose root ball was pulled out of the ground! The
other end
of
all three dipoles were intact. We rig with weights on pulleys, and
rigging
is pretty robust.
73, Jim K9YC
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