[HCARC] Crimped vs Soldered Coax Connectors??

[Gary J - N5BAA]

OPINIONS DESIRED:

Assumption:  Access to a good crimper for Pl-259’s and N Connectors is available.

Fact:  The military seems to have stopped soldering in favor of crimping all of their connectors.  The Air Force in particular finds crimped connectors more durable in planes do to their better ability to withstand vibration, although it might be that they can train airmen better to crimp than to solder.

Fact:  Many of us just are not good solderers.  I will admit this.

Fact:  It takes a more powerful soldering gun to generate enough heat to solder a Pl-259 or N connector, especially outdoors in the breeze or winter.

Maybe a Fact:  If you screw up a crimp, part of the connector might be reusable – just replace the crimp sleeve.

Question:  Is it worth transitioning over from PL-259’s to easier to maintain N connectors, or in the case of New Hams, just starting out with N connectors??

Question:  Is it worth the club or an individual, owning a crimper for club member use for RG-8 (and like diameter LMR-400, Rg-213, etc), 8X, 58, and N connectors??  One crimper with several different Dies will handle almost all Coax up through LMR-400, with the possibility for getting a die for LMR-600 if anyone was so inclined – although I can’t see why use LMR-600 unless you were using higher UHF/VHF freqs.

OPINIONS PLEASE!!!

Gary J
N5BAA