Where to buy cable & connectors?

VK3WDE

New member
I'm new to the club, only recently licensed, but have spent my entire working career at the pointy end of high capacity/speed transmission systems.
I've acquired a nice transceiver, an Icom IC-746Pro, and mangled together a couple of basic antennae, but now I seem to have discovered a disadvantage of my previous employment, where no expenses was spared.
I'm looking for good quality cable and connectors.
Where can I get these, online preferred as it costs me $30 for a trip to Shep and even more to Melb.
I've already been to Jaycar, so cross that off the list. Garbage on par with AliX and eBay.
I have bought RF gear in the past from TelcoAntenna in QLD, and have always been buying bits and pieces from Mouser and Digikey, but with the demise of Slims' shop I know of nothing more local.
Any suggestions for RG58/LMR195 cable and BNC/N/UHF connectors?
 

VK3YNV

Administrator
Staff member
For pre made cables made to order you could check out rf-shop https://rfshop.com.au/ I used them on a few jobs and the quality is good.

If you want to go a bit up market try https://messi.it/en/home.htm bit pricey and I've never bought from them but I believe they make good quality.

Most of the stuff I usually make my own using the cheap RG400 from Aliexpress ( it's double shielded silver plated copper and teflon dieletric )
Seems to be ok. Salvaged connectors from ex-military gear is usually pretty good quality.

LDF-450 (usually second hand ) can be had pretty cheap from hamfests and LDF-450 connectors are cheaper these days. I got a heap of Andrew connectors from the last hamfest for a few dollars each. If you want to do a run of LDF-450 and need a couple of connectors let me know.
 

VK3WDE

New member
Thanks for that. I think someone had mentioned RFShop to me but I'd forgotten.
They seem to be roughly on par with TelcoAntenna.
M&P looks... interesting. I think that's as polite as I can be.
Having spent much longer than I'd like working with manufacturers in mainland China I have a definite aversion to anything that I cant trace the provenance of. You may get a bargain on eBay or AliX, but (and this is simply my personal opinion) I think you'll probably get ripped off.
I don't miss working in fact I rarely ever think about the old company, but right now I do miss the corporate account with H&S.
 

BillC

Active member
Thanks for that. I think someone had mentioned RFShop to me but I'd forgotten.
They seem to be roughly on par with TelcoAntenna.
M&P looks... interesting. I think that's as polite as I can be.
Having spent much longer than I'd like working with manufacturers in mainland China I have a definite aversion to anything that I cant trace the provenance of. You may get a bargain on eBay or AliX, but (and this is simply my personal opinion) I think you'll probably get ripped off.
I don't miss working in fact I rarely ever think about the old company, but right now I do miss the corporate account with H&S.
I have a few of these TED. 7-10-2 "N" connectors how many do you need at the present time?
IMG_4641.JPG
 
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VK3WDE

New member
Thanks Bill, but I'm OK for N at present. Found 6 genuine Macom N males, still in original packing, lurking in the back of the connector box.
I'm sure I'll need more eventually, I find building antennas to be habit forming.
 
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