Digital Snake Recommendations

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This topic contains 13 replies, has 8 voices, and was last updated by Profile photo of robbocurry robbocurry 9 years, 11 months ago.

Viewing 14 posts - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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  • #38351
    Profile photo of robbocurry
    robbocurry
    Participant

    Hi folks,
    I know this is the GLD portion of the site but since the GLD has been around a little longer than the QU, there might be more people with the info I need;)
    I’m looking for a 50m snake to connect my QU24 to my soon to arrive AR2412. Your recommendations and personal experience regarding quality and reliability would be a great help:)
    Thanks in anticipation!
    Rob

    #38352
    Profile photo of dcongdon
    dcongdon
    Participant

    We have been very happy with Rapco DURACAT-xNN cables. We have several 300ft duraCat with ethercon connectors on Hannay reels. Great price, very flexible, and so far very durable.

    Daniel

    #38370
    Profile photo of BobWitte
    BobWitte
    Participant

    We had issues with the A&H 120 meter cables. I shortened them by 100 feet and they worked great. so the 80 Meter ones would be fine.

    We also used Duracat for a situation where the cable stayed installed and it worked great also.

    The ProSoundWeb has some info too:

    #38371
    Profile photo of BobWitte
    BobWitte
    Participant

    Hmm here is the link. I must of done something wrong in my last message:

    https://forums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/topic,145484.0.html

    #38374
    Profile photo of Eddy_current
    Eddy_current
    Participant

    I have been using 80m of Van Damme Tourcat CAT 5e flexible stranded cable with no problems on my GLD and QU-16 with AR2412. I got the cable from CPC (100m for £133 ish) along with some Ethercon connectors and a cheap reel from Amazon.

    Dave.

    #38379
    Profile photo of robbocurry
    robbocurry
    Participant

    Thanks for the info so far guys:)
    I’ve been soldering and making leads for over 30yrs now but I’ve never made up a cable like this. I hadn’t actually thought about making my own, I’d need to buy an ethercon and check some online stuff regarding the shielding etc.
    Tbh I gawped at the prices of some of the cables, I can’t justify (in my head) a cat5 cable the price of a mixer!!

    #38393
    Profile photo of Detonator
    Detonator
    Participant

    Robbocurry –

    Something like this…

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/like/290723483314?lpid=82

    #38399
    Profile photo of robbocurry
    robbocurry
    Participant

    Thanks guys for your advice:)
    I’ve been reading about various stranded cables giving problems over 75m, so I emailed this seller asking for a 60m setup and this is what he’s offering – looks good to me at £144 delivered:)
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111304177957

    BTW Detonator, I have one of those kits already for a Cat5/HDMI interface I never got around to building!

    #38402
    Profile photo of BobWitte
    BobWitte
    Participant

    Putting on an Ethercon with shielded cable and stranded conductors has been a bit of a challenge for me at first (and still is). Getting those wires in the correct area for the crimp is tricky. Takes patience. The shielded cable with stranded wire makes it a bigger challenge then solid wire…

    Anyways, the first one was a mess but worked. The second one I made looks great. I will redo my first one someday soon.

    Proper tools are cheap and easy to work with.

    #38403
    Profile photo of robbocurry
    robbocurry
    Participant

    That was a good link you listed Bob, I spent a few hours trawling it instead of working, playing catchup now:/
    I’ll probably make up a few shorter leads myself, it would be good practice in case I need a spare or repair at a gig!
    I’d assumed the stranded cables were the best option as they’d be more resilient to handling. Having read all that I have, they seem to be the second choice to solid cores. I guess I’ll have to take the plunge on one or the other……

    #38404
    Profile photo of
    Anonymous

    Great reading, thanks! I have only just moved into using cat cable instead of those huge analogue multi scenario’s.
    I recently used 3 QU desks and simply bought 3 x 50 lengths of Cat6. Taped them together as a temporary means.
    So do I need to be careful about anything here as these cat 6 cables are from the local electronic store..? Any advice would be very helpful. They are stranded…
    Thanks. I hope to hear from you.

    davyd

    #38891
    Profile photo of bob274
    bob274
    Participant

    For our digital snake I bought a Cat6a shielded STP cable from Monoprice. 100ft for $28. Then I bought some Neutrik Ethercon ends (for preassembled cables) for a few bucks. Carefully cut off the rubber boots from the cable and installed the ends. Whala! Fully shielded Ethercon cable, 100ft for about $40. Better quality than most others.

    #38909
    Profile photo of ahjeff
    ahjeff
    Moderator

    The best RJ45 plugs I’ve used for making my own cables are these ones:

    https://uk.farnell.com/hrs-hirose/tm11ap-88p-61/connector-modular-rj45-plug-8p8c/dp/2300426

    They are used on a lot of the pre-made EtherCon reels you can buy. One issue with them is that you can’t crimp them in the normal way; you need either the Hirose tool (expensive), or you can use a normal tool backwards (insert the assembly from the other side, which might require modification of the tool).

    Cheers

    – Jeff, A&H

    #38912
    Profile photo of robbocurry
    robbocurry
    Participant

    Thanks for the link Jeff, will get some ordered now;)
    In the interim I bought an empty cable drum from CPC and a 30m VanDamme Tourcat STP cable for £60 delivered from here:
    https://www.surebuyz.com/CustomleadZ/LDZ-0075.html

    I didn’t want to spend too much until I got a chance to try Tourcat for myself. I used it Tuesday and Wednesday night for the first time and it worked perfectly. The cable drum from CPC is just ok, it was cheap enough but a bit stiff. CPC displayed a black reel but sent me a yellow one, maybe for health and safety reasons for low light visibility;)

    Might buy some Cat6 cable like Bob has suggested for a cheap and cheerful backup.
    If I get a 60m cable I think I’ll be covered for all eventualities, the source and type still to be determined.

    Once again, thanks for your help and suggestions guys:)

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