New Tool Makes Cable Installs a Breeze: Bo-Dickey is Better Mousetrap

Sometimes the proverbial "Better Mouse Trap" has been in someone's watch pocket for years. This is the case with Sam Conroe's invention, the "Bo-Dickey," insertion tool, a device used to prepare coaxial cables so the end connectors can be inserted easily and correctly.

Sam actually developed the tool for himself over 15 years ago to meet the demands of satellite installations in all weather conditions. He always kept one of the tools handy in the watch pocket of his pants for quick access and never really thought much about it.

The design of the unique patent pending device is simple, but very effective. Sam says if technicians who install satellite and cable television systems use this $14.95 tool, they will see what he has found for almost two decades: The "Bo-Dickey" takes the hassle out of a tedious and demanding task of connector insertion.

One of the most important parts of a cable installation effort is making sure the end connectors are correctly inserted. Many times, inexperienced or rushed installers will just jam and twist connectors on the cable end, causing the shielding to bunch up or shred. The resulting installation usually has a poor ground and under specification frequency response meaning repair calls for the installer.

Some more expensive tools on the market are designed to "flare" cable ends, but Sam says these devices do not do a good enough job, especially with the new and deeper-collared connectors now being required by satellite television company installations. Plus, these flaring tools and their clones are very hard to use in colder weather because the cable's rubberized exterior insulation cover gets stiff and will not flare properly.

And, Sam says these tools do not go deep enough on the coaxial cable, and many times can leave the cable jacket too loose for a good connector insertion...

The "Bo-Dickey" approaches the fitting insertion task in a different way, Sam said. Once the cable end has been prepared and the proper amount of insulation has been cut and the internal grounding braid has been folded back, the center conductor and insulation is cleanly exposed, awaiting the connector.

Professional cable connectors have an internal sleeve that must slip snugly down over the center conductor's insulation and also make constant contact with the grounding shield. Failure to do so will result in a loss in signal strength and quality when the connector is installed.

The "Bo-Dickey" is designed in such a way that it has a sharp beveled edge at the end of a steel tube the exact size of the cable's center conductor, such as RG-6. It is also manufactured to the exact depth of a cable fitting collar. When the "Bo-Dickey's" sharp edge and tube is slid down over the center conductor and properly used in a gently TWISTING motion, the grounding braid is separated from the center conductor just enough for the cable end fitting to be inserted onto the cable and then properly crimped without damaging the outside wire braiding.

Sam said the entire operation from the time the cable cut to length until a connector is ready to be crimped takes can be less than one minute. Sam has also designed the "Bo-Dickey" in such a way that if a technician doesn't have enough hand strength or must work in very cold weather and gloves, it can be inserted onto the end of a standard screwdriver for a better grip.

However, Sam said that almost everyone can easily use just the bright yellow rubberized grip. The screwdriver attachment was added for convenience.

Why a bright yellow grip? Sam said he has found over the years after losing some of the devices he had made for himself, that the original black grip was hard to see in dark areas such as attics or crawl spaces if the Bo-Dickey was dropped.

Sam said the patented beveled cutting edge was easy to keep sharp by just passing it over a sharpening stone from time to time, like a kitchen knife.

Sam has been using his small tool for about 15 years, he said, and never thought about it because it met his needs. His wife changed all that when she told him one day that he needed to share his tool with others and market it. That set the wheels to turning and after doing research into the market, found no other tool as good as his, Sam patented the "B-Dickey" and started manufacturing the device.

The "Bo-Dickey" has its own web page at www.bo-dicket.com and is marketed by Conover's company in Chantilly. He may be reached through the web page at SES, 3924 Chantilly Rd., Chantilly, VA20151. Phone is (703) 968-9098.