[Elecraft] Type "N" connectors

[Jack Smith]

1. Properly applied, the crimp provides a gas-tight metal-to-metal seal.

2. Also, the ferrule provides a strain relief at least as good as the 
braid-clamp in a conventional N or BNC connector.

3. For UHF connectors, double crimp = no heat and thus eliminates the 
chance of melting the dielectric when used with polyethylene dielectric 
cables.

4. I installed a batch of 50 SMA bulkheads connectors with 0.080" 
diameter Teflon coax last year and it would have been a real challenge 
with other  than a crimp shield connector.

5. I've swept the  crimp connectors I install up to 3 GHz with my VNA 
and find them more than adequate in  terms of  return loss and through loss.

6. As far as longevity, I have some crimped UHF connectors that are 20 
years old installed outside (protected with Scotch 33 electrical tape, 
then self-amalgamating tape, topped off with Scotchcoat and they show no 
signs of degradation.

7. Your opinion may differ and your standards for adequate return loss 
may differ from mine.


Jack



Sam Morgan wrote:
> Jack Smith wrote:
>> I would add  that once you have a good crimp tool, such as the 
>> ratcheting type Don mentions, one can install crimp UHF connectors as 
>> well.
>>
>> I switched to crimp-type connectors quite a while ago and find them 
>> superior to solder-type connectors.
> snip
>
> uh pardon my ignorance...
>
> since when is a compression styled contact point
> *electrically*
> superior to a soldered one?
> at any frequency?