[HCARC] "N" Connectors

[Gary and Arlene Johnson]

Kerry,

Sometimes maybe more than I WANTED to know, but never more than I NEEDED to 
know.  Sometimes as a Newbie, you don't know what you need to know and 
surely don't know what you don't know!!!  I have been told that the SP in 
the Amphenol 83-ISP stands for Silver Plated.

Gary J
N5BAA
HCARC Secretary 2013


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kerry Sandstrom" <kerryk5ks at hughes.net>
To: "Gary and Arlene Johnson" <qltfnish at omniglobal.net>
Cc: "Hcarc reflector" <hcarc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 5:43 PM
Subject: Re: [HCARC] "N" Connectors


> Hi Gary,
>
> I prefer the Amphenol PL-259 UHF connentors.  The particular ones I use 
> are 83-ISP, the ones Bill, W3XO, mentioned at the meeting last thursday. 
> They don't appear to be silver plated to me.  The silver plated ones I've 
> seen just have the end of the center conductor plated.  The UHF connectors 
> to avoid are the ones that are cast.  you can see the parting lines on the 
> coupling ring.  I don't have any idea what they are made of, but they 
> aren't very rugged.  They also don't have the manufacturer's name on them. 
> If you see inexpensive  (~$1) connectors - avoid them!  I also avoid the 
> ones with white plastic insulators.  The insulation melts.  I'm not sure 
> how to relably identify Teflon insulated connectors so If I can't find the 
> manufacturer's name, I don't buy them.  By the way, if I'm having trouble 
> finding UHF connectors, I've been known to buy old cable with good 
> connectgors on them and reuse the connectors.  After all, that is what ham 
> radio is all about!
>
> I use UG-21/U Type N straight plugs.  I've also used UG-23B/U.  Both types 
> are used for RG-8, 9, 213, and 214.  They are solder type connectors and 
> are weatherproof and 50 Ohm impedance.  The only soldering required is to 
> solder the center conductor to the coax.  The shield doesn't require 
> soldering.  I prefer the solder type because I am usually able to re-use 
> them and as I have bought them all surplus, they are the ones usually 
> available. Incidently, those cables are all 1/2" 50 Ohm cable.  RG-8/U has 
> single bare copper braid, RG-213/U has double bare copper braid, RG-9/U 
> has silvered center conductor and double silvered copper braid and RG-214 
> is the new designation for RG-9/U.
>
> The tricky part of all the better RF connectors is stripping the coax to 
> the correct dimensions.  The ARRL handbook has diagrams showing how to 
> strip the coax and assemble the connectors.  It really isn't difficult. 
> These diagrams are in the "Component Data" section of the handbook which 
> also includes a list of the mil designations for the various connector 
> series, a list of the more common inter-series adapters, and the coax 
> cables that can be used with each connector.  It is really quite useful 
> and you will be amazed how many different connector series there are.
>
> If I were using coax that has an aluminum foil shield, I think I would use 
> crimp-on style connectors.  As I said previously, for foam dielectric 
> coax, the center conductor is substantially larger in diameter than either 
> the solid PE or teflon coax center conductors.  The standard connectors do 
> not fit these cables.  If you're not using standard coax, you need to find 
> out from the manufacturer which connector is recommended for his 
> particular cable.  In any case, Amphenol is a good source of N-connectors. 
> There are several others.  I've found if the connector carries a mil 
> designation like UG-21/U it will work OK no matter who made them.  There 
> is anew mil designation for the connectors.  I think it is also Mil 
> C17-XXXXXXXXX.  I haven't seen any surplus connectors labeled as such yet, 
> but I have seen cables with the new numbers.
>
> Amphenol also made/makes a line of N-connectors for IEEE 802.3 Ethernet 
> LAN's.  Avoid them!  They are 70 Ohm impedance connectors and I don't 
> think are as rugged as the UG-21/U connectors.  Amphenol also made/makes 
> an RFX series of N-connectors which I believe are less expensive than the 
> mil type. I haven't used them, but they should be all right if you are 
> buying new rather than surplus.  By the way, the mil number for 70 Ohm 
> N-Plugs is UG-94A/U, also avoid them unless you have 70 Ohm coax.
>
> Probably more than you wanted to know, as usual.
>
> Have fun,
>
> Kerry
>
>
>
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