SubscribeI began making patch cables for my Crestron PVID’s and BIPAD’s. This pic shows my first box of 200 RCA compression fittings. ZERO failure after testing. Years ago everything was soldered. My first job had me sitting in the back room making custom terminated straightwire and monster cable for an hour or 2 each day. This was back before you could get monster cable at the gas station. I hated every smokey finger burning moment of it. I was in heaven when our first batch of compression fittings showed up. They had 3 parts and they sucked. There wasn’t a clear stop for the center pin so it was easy to end up with a cable that would pass continuity but not work. Then we got some in that had 2 parts and finally we started using Liberty which had 1 part and we haven’t used anything else since. The center pin is fixed so you avoid the issues we have had with other manufacturers.
I really like Liberty’s ConnecTec stuff. It’s a lot less expensive than the Planet Waves stuff we also use, but it’s a hell of a lot easier to ‘tweak’ the PW stuff. Cable 1/8″ too long? Unscrew the connector, slide off, cut 1/8″ off, put connector back on, screw down. Done.
Only problem I’ve been having with the Libertys are some of the back end of the connectors don’t always stay on. It’s like they never fully compress. The connection is fine, but that little back ring sometimes gets loose. Maybe I need a new compression tool. Mine is about 5 years old…
We have been using the liberty kit for about 3 years now. I love it. I can terminate a whole job in hours instead of days. The only thing I wish they would add to their product line is fittings for RG-58 cable.
My compression tool is pretty old. It doesnt look like it will ever wear out. Which one do you have? I had a ProConnect one that came with a bunch of bits for different connectors. When i tried to use it with Liberty i couldnt find one that would work properly so i had to buy this one http://www.wiremunky.com/image/tools/cm_tool.jpg. It has a ball bearing loaded bit that spins around so you can choose whether or not your compressing F, RCA or BNC. The back portion of the connector is always completely compressed and never comes loose.