All

I was removing my stream and in doing so, the aerial cable came out of it's connector so I am left with the FAKRA/SMB bit and the cable with the metal shield apart. Any way this could be fixed, I was thinking an SMB connector from RS components and crimp it all together but am unsure as to whether it will work or not.

Gutted!! The aerial cable is mega short as well

Does anyone know what type of coax that we have in the Skoda Octavia as standard?? Someone seems to think it is RG-174.

Any idea for confirmation???

Thanks

All

I was removing my stream and in doing so, the aerial cable came out of it's connector so I am left with the FAKRA/SMB bit and the cable with the metal shield apart. Any way this could be fixed, I was thinking an SMB connector from RS components and crimp it all together but am unsure as to whether it will work or not.

Gutted!! The aerial cable is mega short as well

There is a way to fix it, but it's a bit dificult to explain how. But, I'll try. I'm very experienced in electronics:

Print this image:

http://img902.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2008/06/02/coaxconnection-4aps8iqzk.jpeg

Read the text and look at the image.

First, you need to buy a new cable that has desired connector on one end. Then, from the new cable cut a piece, like 10-15cm long (or longer if you need it). On one end of that piece you'll have a new connector. On the old cable, cut the end with old connector, you don't need it anymore. Now you need to join those two pieces, which is most tricky part. Very carefuly, on both cables, on ends you'll use to join, cut the plastic outer shield to strip the cable. Cut 3-4cm long. Strip out both cables. Be careful cutting, do it with knife, with not very sharp edge. You may not cut the metal shield bellow the plastic one. When done, with very small screw driver, pass through the metal wire shield, to undo net made of tiny wires. After that, join those tiny wires and roll them together. Next step is to cut the plastic shield that is arround inner wire. Cut it a bit shorter then outer plastic shield you've already cut. Join inner wires on both ends, iff possible solder them for secure contact. Isolate arround. Join outer parts of wire, solder if possible, but do not isolate. Get 20 cm long wire from some other cable and roll it around outer joint, making sure that it touches that joint. That's because you need to make new shield arround connection you've just made. Isolate now everything. Make sure isolation is very tight.

That'll do.

Thanks for that, I was gonna do something like that when I get back to work. You mentioned things though that I wouldn't have done so thanks again mate.

If I was doing it, I wouldn't tease out the wires or twist them, just push them back. Cut the centre conductors back a few mm and overlap them when joining. That will give you some overlap when you pull the screens back. Ease the screen back over the join, (after insulating it,) and they should overlap. A light touch with the soldering iron should let you connect them without doing too much damage to the insulation underneath.

Don't over-insulate the centre conductor; you need the overall diameter to be as close as possible to the rest of the cable.

The more perfect you can make the join, the better reception you'll get.

Cheers mate..called the dealer today and they might cover it under warranty..

Hopefully