[Elecraft] why mix rf connector types within the product line?

[Edward R Cole]

Just one more comment on this topic:

Ron addressed marine use.  My former job of 15-years was working as 
lead electronic tech for an oil spill recovery organization whose 
primary region of operation is Cook Inlet in southcentral Alaska (200 
by 30 mile body of salt water).  Electronics installed on boats 
ranging from 25-foot to 210-foot provided an excellent outdoor 
"laboratory" for testing cables and connections.  Anything exposed 
would corrode within three years.  I sealed coax connectors of all 
types by using a gray annealing tape from 3M (Scotch 30, I believe) 
which was covered with a double wrap of Scotch-33+.  Not all 
electrical tape is the same and the 33 has more stretch in cold 
wx.  Cheap electric tape would get brittle and either break or 
crack.  I also used heat-shrink on some coax connections.  Both 
provided excellent service in a 100% humidity salt-water 
atmosphere.  I unwrapped some after 5-years service and were still 
bright and clean.

DC wiring is more problematic when it typically ties to terminal 
strips.  Some experimentation with paint-on coatings worked but not 
universally used as DC wiring needs to remain removable for 
servicing.  Some marine radios and radars provide rubber boots over 
connectors.  They were of marginal success.  Keeps direct spray off 
but not sealing from salt vapor.  Most marine electronics has greatly 
improved connections so that they are molded multi-pin design and 
water-tight these days.  Lots of gaskets used in marine electronic 
cabinetry/enclosures.

I prefer to use N connections on VHF and higher frequencies as they 
self-seal to an extent using an internal gasket.  But always seal 
over, as described above, as well.  I have over 20 N-connectors in my 
2m-eme system, alone.  I primarily use LMR cable from Times Microwave 
(and some RG-213 and Heliax).  RG-58, RG-8/x, and LMR-240 is used 
with BNC or N connectors mostly for short jumpers.  UHF connectors 
are used on equipment having those style connectors, since adapters 
typically add some loss and unreliability.  It pays to buy quality 
for adapters; cheap ones have SWR and high insertion losses.  You get 
what you pay for (generally).

Hardline connectors, properly sealed, last for over a decade.

73, Ed - KL7UW