Connector Care (or Not)

[mswhin63]

Hi All,

Slowly getting settled into my new home and lab and decided to clear out some connectors I purchased from a completed project. In all my years as a Communication Tech I have never seen such a sorry state in responsible connector care in my life.

I have worked up North West often and just cannot fathom how bad some people place on the care of such expensive and critical connectors. It is a wonder systems are braking down.

After working in the industry for 30 years I decided to get my Cablers endorsement COAX, OF (Optic Fibre) and SCS (Structured Cabling) and I was amazed at some of the stories of the industry that is a bit concerning.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/0a5VN52p_vg

[EEVblog]

That reminds me, I think I have some footage from the Agilent cal lab in Melbourne about "connector care". It's a big deal in cal labs with 50GHz gear.

[mswhin63]

It would interesting to see it. The most I have ever worked with is 16GHz and that was challenging enough, that was 20 years ago though.

[EEVblog]

It would interesting to see it. The most I have ever worked with is 16GHz and that was challenging enough, that was 20 years ago though.

Might have to see if I can dog out the footage. Those cal guys really loved talking about connector care!

[LukeW]

That reminds me, I think I have some footage from the Agilent cal lab in Melbourne about "connector care". It's a big deal in cal labs with 50GHz gear.

That's like the "golden rule" with expensive high-end instruments, right? Don't bugger up the connectors, and don't inject too much RF power. And no, that's not an SMA connector even though you think it looks like one.

[Fungus]

Might have to see if I can dog out the footage.

Dog it out? Be sure to record that on video for your fetishist fans.