Need FME to U.FL pigtail

Autonator · 11-29-2006, 04:54 PM

I bought the Hirschmann 3 in 1 car antenna from mp3car, It comes with three about 8' or so wires coming out of the antenna and each wire is terminated with a FME female connector.

What i am looking for is a pigtail that has a U.FL Connector on one end, and a FME Male Connector on teh other end.

I didnt expect it to be this hard to find a pigtail for it, I think mp3car should also sell the pigtails for it since the antenna will be used mostly for wifi applications and people would need a pigtail to go from a U.FL on a mini PCI card to the FME on the antenna wire.

I tried the sites i saw in some posts here..

This site was good but they dont carry a a FME type connector at all

. I tried calling them, but they said the minimum order will be $100 and they sell to companies only didnt even tell me if they had a FME connector solution

.

Then i found this site.. They didnt have it readily available either. They had a form for custom orders, i filled that out and got no respose back (it said i should get a response back within 24hrs) Even if they reply im affaraid they will tell me that they dont seel single pieces and that i have to have a bulk order.

I am stuck with a antenna that i cant do **** with so far..

If you guys got a pigtail for urs from somehwere let me know.. I am sure its not just me who bought thsi antenna and is connecting it to a Mini PCI U.FL connector.

DarquePervert · 11-29-2006, 05:21 PM

FME looks a lot like SMA.
They may or may not be the same.
[EDIT] after digging a bit, I found that they are not the same.

I bought my entire WiFi setup from here: http://www.wlanparts.com
They were very helpful in making certain I got what I needed. They have a good number of pigtails available, but nothing with FME connectors. They may be able to help you out with finding a source or a custom cable.

OK, so they don't have what you need, but my research revealed that the cable is the same for both SMA and FME. I would think that you could probably get a pigtail for SMA, cut off the SMA end and put on an FME connector. Just an idea.

Autonator · 11-29-2006, 10:19 PM

Seems like you have been verifying and asking around about what i need.. I really really appreciate that.

I did think about replacing the wire end with a FME myself, but its just that feeling of having the crimping done professionaly, cuz remember since antenna wires work on really really delicate power, it matters how well you have the wire contacts made.

The search continues !!

DarquePervert · 11-30-2006, 05:54 AM

Another option is to locate a pigtail for an FME connector, then use another adapter to the U.FL connector. It's kluugey, but it would likely work for your purpose.

You might also call a local radio place and have them make you a custom cable (or two, so you could have a spare). Local shops would be more willing to do something like this on a onesy-twosie basis than an online shop would.

Autonator · 11-30-2006, 01:14 PM

Found This.. but they only take orders in england

Its exactly what i need.. length is perfect too and it can be mounted in teh back in a hole.. its perfect.. !

Ill keep looking...

Autonator · 12-01-2006, 01:17 AM

Ok here is my solution hope it works as good..

1. First i got this U.FL to "SMA" Female 6" pig tail.

2. Second i got these SMA Male to FME Male adapter from here.

I will install the pigtail making a hole at the back of my Car PC in the motherboard apperture sheild, i am planning to install 2 pigtails one for the WiFi card and One for the EVDO card. Then use ther adapters to connect the external antenna wires to it..

hope this works.. what do u guys think?

nigwhyrito · 12-01-2006, 04:06 AM

I agree with you Autonator "I think mp3car should also sell the pigtails for it since the antenna will be used mostly for wifi applications and people would need a pigtail to go from a U.FL on a mini PCI card to the FME on the antenna wire."
It took me about 5 days of searching all the links in here and google just to find the connectors i needed.. Also did you look at the instructions.. There are 2 models of this antenna.. The second model comes with 2 fme females
and 1 sma for the gps... I wish i would have ordered that one instead... I still dont have my wifi connected.. I ordered a fme male to sma male for gps.
i ordered a fme male to sma male then sma female to female.. didnt need the sma female to female.. I need to order now rp sma male to sma female..
Just a pain that they carry the antenna but no adapters or pigtails.

Stupid d-link card.. sorry just venting..I am not bashing mp3car store.

DarquePervert · 12-01-2006, 05:22 AM

I think that mp3car would have to stock so many different pigtails to connect to so many different types of connections that it wouldn't be cost-effective for them to offer adapters or pigtails.

Autonator · 12-01-2006, 10:54 AM

You guys are right..

As long as the pigtails go they should atleast have the UFL to FME pitail .. that would be the most commonly used.

other than that the second most common would be SMA. So really if they keep these two that will cover most of them.

nigwhyrito:
By the way, how does the antenna perform? did you see a significant improvement? is it worth putting a hole in my trunk ?

sama · 12-01-2006, 11:03 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Autonator

Found This.. but they only take orders in england

Its exactly what i need.. length is perfect too and it can be mounted in teh back in a hole.. its perfect.. !

Ill keep looking...

if you really get stuck, I'll buy it for you and you can pay me via paypal or something

Wiredwrx · 12-01-2006, 12:44 PM

I would suggest buying the highest quality CORRECT connector you can find and afford, and installing it yourself.

Adaptors, and short runs of cable with connectors on each end, increases the already high loss of the RG174 cable.

Michael

Autonator · 12-01-2006, 03:12 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Wiredwrx

I would suggest buying the highest quality CORRECT connector you can find and afford, and installing it yourself.

Adaptors, and short runs of cable with connectors on each end, increases the already high loss of the RG174 cable.

Michael

ok so given my setup... what connectors do u suggest? material wise, brand wise etc? any links? how would you optimize the setup? Now, THAT info my friend.. will really help us all

Wiredwrx · 12-01-2006, 03:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Autonator

ok so given my setup... what connectors do u suggest? material wise, brand wise etc? any links? how would you optimize the setup? Now, THAT info my friend.. will really help us all

Amphenol is considered one of the best quality connectors. Get the one that mates with your card, whatever it is, FME, R-TNC, whatever, and the connector made for the cable, which is RG174.

Like this one
http://www.amphenolconnex.com/Search...?ProductID=506

Michael

Autonator · 12-02-2006, 09:13 PM

hmm, good source..

but i cant see why these would be the best connectors? how much improvement would these give you? may be a db or less ?

isnt gold better than nikel as a conductoor?

plus they have nothing that would solve my problem. im trying to get from a UFL to FME. Also the solution i found (see my post above with RESOLVED heading).. what do u think will be my loss?

Wiredwrx · 12-02-2006, 10:17 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Autonator

hmm, good source..

but i cant see why these would be the best connectors? how much improvement would these give you? may be a db or less ?

isnt gold better than nikel as a conductoor?

plus they have nothing that would solve my problem. im trying to get from a UFL to FME. Also the solution i found (see my post above with RESOLVED heading).. what do u think will be my loss?

Yes, gold is a better conductor. You didn't click on the specs of the connector,
"Electrical
Impedance 50 Ω nominal
Frequency range DC-200 MHz.

Mechanical
Mating M8XP .75 thd.
Cable affixment
Crimp

Material
Body, couling sleeve, male contact Brass
Female contact Phosphor bronze
Crimp ferrule Brass
Plating Contacts: gold
Other metal parts: Nickel
Insulator Teflon or Delrin
"
Amphenol is the BEST connector out there. It is the "Ferrari" of connectors. What you are doing is using the honda, or maybe the Hyundai of connections.

You HAVE TO REMOVE THE CONNECTOR THAT IS ON THE CABLE YOU HAVE FROM THE ANTENNA, AND INSTALL THE AMPHENOL CONNECTOR. No adaptors, no pigtails, just a cable and connector.

Your average connector add about a .5 to 1.0 db of loss, so, FME MALE to FME FEMALE, to UFL is between 1.5 and 3 db of loss, which slashes your power between 1/4 and 1/2 and effects your reception as well.

The Amphenol connector probably has a loss of less then .5, and probably closer to .2. That means, one connector, loss of .2 to .5 db, which is negligable.

Michael