In our first installment of DX Engineering’s Winter Purchasing Guide, we tackled the important topic of weatherproofing your coaxial connectors and other equipment. While certainly not as exciting as a discussion about the latest rig, prudent hams recognize that the little things we do with our stations are just as important, if not nearly as fun, as ordering the latest flavor of transceiver.
With this in mind, we’ll be devoting today’s blog post to another aspect of ham radio that likely won’t set anyone’s heart a-flutter but definitely demands our undivided attention: cable management.
Cable management is one of the keys to a well-organized shack. This is an especially cogent point for hams who are more Oscar Madison than Felix Unger when it comes to maintaining their stations. As equipment gets added, it’s easy for things to spiral (or get impossibly tangled) out of control. Often, cavalier cable management is at the root of a disorganized shack and a lot of wasted time. Fortunately, DX Engineering has everything you need to put your space in order.
DX Engineering Rip-Ties
Velcro™ hook-and-loop-style Rip-Ties let you tidy up loose cables, make your cable runs look professional, and neatly store spare cables and antenna wire around the shack or during portable ops. These cable wraps, featuring the DX Engineering logo, hold tight yet easily unfasten with a pull from the end. Available in red, blue, or black, reusable Rip-Ties come in three styles: Nylon tie, buckle, and Rip-Lock.
Five Stars: “Nice items to have in the shack. Used them on my many wires that I had bread wraps on—makes things look much neater.”
NTE Hook and Loop Cable Ties
NTE Electronics Hook and Loop Cable Ties are soft straps that can be used over and over again. They are rated for indoor and outdoor use, making them ideal for various applications.
Constructed using nylon (male side) and polypropylene (female side) material, these ties are durable and strong. Available in packs of ten, they come in single or assorted colors, and various lengths (4.92, 5.91, 7.87, or 9.45 inches), widths (.47 or .51 inches), and weight ratings (33 or 40 lbs.).
Zip Ties
Another item you can never have enough of in and out of the shack, DX Engineering UV-resistant, self-locking Zip Ties come in packs of 100 and can be your handy hero for cable management, field repairs, securing gear, and more. They feature a curved tip for easier wrapping. Available in lengths of 4, 8, 11, and 14 inches.
NTE Flag and ID Cable Ties
Don’t forget one of the most important rules of cable management—label everything! That won’t be a problem with these flag and ID cable ties. Flag ties come in lengths of 4 or 4.3 inches and feature a tab for easy marking and identification, expediting your troubleshooting and taking the headache out of station maintenance and repairs. Nylon ID cable ties (7.8 inch) include a convenient ID space molded right on the tie so you always know what cable goes where. Flag and ID Cable Ties come in packs of 100.
Summit Racing Braided Wire Wraps
These sleeve-type wraps add extra protection to your wires, improve cable management, and add a slick look to your homebrew projects. They’re made from heat-resistant, woven polymer fiber that’s split lengthwise so you can easily slip in your wire bundle. Choose from these options: 20 foot long, ¼ inch diameter; 10 foot long, ½ inch diameter; 6 foot long, ¾ inch diameter; and 4 foot long, 2 inch diameter.
DX Engineering also carries West Mount Radio’s RIGrunner DC Outlet Panel—a great way to organize your DC power distribution and say good riddance to the rat’s nest attached to your current power supply.
