[MLB-WIRELESS] 'Pigtail' in G4 Macintosh

[Michael Borthwick]

Rob Werner wrote:

> OK, time for a dumb question (or two)...
>
> Does the very thin cable which is used to make pigtails have an inner core
> and an outer shielding layer?

Yes it is co-axial cable - ie two conductors on the same axis - usually RG316
but also occasionally RG174

> The cable used in Macintosh computers for
> Airport looks like it is just a single solid wire which I thought was weird.

This would be wierd if it was true.

These Mac pigtails from desktop Macs are often cut out and used in antenna
modding applications. All recent
desktop Macs have in-built antennas and pigtails while PowerBooks have a slot
for the Airport card  which is not PCMCIA compatible.

>
> Does anyone happen to have a link which explains how to make your own
> pigtails or should I leave it to the professionals?

Ryan and I have both looked at this issue in detail.

No such tutorial currently exists online by the way but the Radial catalogue CD
available from our friends
at rojone who sell the connectors shows how to crimp them.

They don't recommend putting them on yourself, neither do U.S. suppliers of the

connectors with whom I have had correspondence.

Having looked at the procedure I would be comfortable having a bash at the
fabrication but the savings appear minimal. However if you like tools there is
the satisfaction of having a $400 milspec crimping tool hanging on your shadow
board next to your aviation snips.

You need to crimp the outer barrel of the connector to secure the braid and
solder the inner core to the centre pin. The little disc you see on a Lucent
pigtail is actually a metal cover concealing the soldered joint of the inner
conductor to the centre pin.

The crimping tool is the sort of asset that a group in a position to
collectively own assets *might* like to consider adding to it's asset register
assuming the members were responsible enough not to leave it out in the rain.

>
>
> Also, can the N connectors sold by DSE and Jaycar be used when building
> homebrew antennas like the Pringles yagi?  If not, where should I buy them?

Yes - DSE and Jaycar N's have been certified for this application by the makers

of Pringles waveguides.





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