[Elecraft] Reliable PL-259 UHF connector engagement

[George Danner]

Andy,

In the 60s & 70s, we had a screwdriver like tool for removing and 
inserting PL-259 connectors in patch-bays in TV stations. It was a 
screwdriver handle and shaft with a steel tube slightly smaller than the 
pl-259. The tube had a longitudinal slot that was big enough for the 
cable to slip through. The side of the tube away from the slot was 
welded to the screwdriver shaft. You slipped the tube over the cable and 
then followed the cable to the connector. We had 3 of these with various 
lengths from a few inches to a very long one that was probably 18" or so.

We switched from UHF to BNC connectors for video because the connector 
density with solid state equipment had increase the connector density so 
that most of the rack space was for connector panels not electronics. We 
quickly found the equivalent for BNC as well. I believe we bought them 
from Pasternak but not sure.

I suspect that the tools were far more expensive than should have been 
since we only had two sets. One set at the studio & one set at the 
transmitter.

73

George AI4VZ

On 7/29/20 2:12 PM, Andy Durbin wrote:
> When I worked in the aerospace industry it was common practice to use special "pliers" for removing "Cannon" multi-pin round connectors.  These were not any old plumber's pipe wrench (you know - the ones that plumbers use to destroy chrome finish bathroom fittings) but a special tool designed for this purpose.  The jaws were rubber padded and exactly the right shape to match the connector locking ring.
>