[Collins] connector questions

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson]

On 1/24/2015 3:59 PM, MICHAEL CROGNALE wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> I have a few questions about the connectors on my gear. I have:
> Winged emblem KWM2A , power supply and 30L-1 The 312-4 happens to be
> round emblem. The 312-4 and 30L-1 have the N connectors of course. I
> had thought about changing them out to SO239s but decided that would
> be too much trouble.

Changing the connector on the wattmeter coupler will probably destroy 
the coupler.

N connectors aren't as hard to put on coax as PL-259. Just different. 
There are alternate styles of N connectors that solder to the braid like 
PL-259. I'd rather do 20 UG21 family type N males than one soldered on 
PL-259. Lately I've converted to crimped with a ratchet crimper that 
works for N and UHF.
>
> So the question then becomes; how much loss/resistance can I expect
> if I use male N/femaleSO239 adapters. I haven’t been using the power
> meter on the 312-4 for that reason. I am especially concerned about
> feeding the output of the 30L-1 into the meter assemble using the
> adapters.

Last night I compared the 2m loss of a length of LMR-400UF with crimp on 
UHF connectors and a RS UHF female to N male adapter to a length of 
Belden 8214 with conventional N connectors. The 8214 I've had for 
decades and its 72 ohm. Compared to the rated output of my 2m rig, I 
didn't detect any loss with the adapter and UHF connectors (rig has UHF, 
Bird wattmeter has N). At a KW I'd wish for a silver plated Amphenol 
adapter rather than a RS adapter. But type N connectors on the coax 
would be better. RG-8 size rather than 8X or 58.
>
> Any help or discussion would be appreciated. Tnx, Mike W3LNA/5
>
>
73, Jerry, K0CQ, Technical Adviser to the Collins Radio Association.