[HCARC] Crimped vs Soldered Coax Connectors??

Mon Sep 22 19:44:12 EDT 2014

Fact 1:  Same tool for everything LMR-400 and smaller, just change the 
crimping die to match the cable and connector being used.

Fact 3:  I have the biggest most beastly Weller Gun I can find and it goes 
up to 350 watts.  Used one on Ebay costs about $60 with shipping or slightly 
less by a couple of bucks than a serviceable crimping tool that will do all 
Coax connectors between RG-58 and LMR-400.  Most butane mini-torches are not 
nearly as expensive, but you had better know what you are doing as there is 
plenty of heat and in places that is not good.

Fact 4:  I will check on the availability of extra crimp 
ferrules(?)/sleeves(?).

Question 2:  At virtually the same cost, for new Hams starting out, a 
crimper may be the easiest and best way to go.  Of course they will have to 
endure the stigma of "more elderly hams" not considering them real Ham radio 
operators because they don't solder or haven't perfected their soldering 
technique.  I won't even touch the comments that are made when an 
"alternative method" of soldering PL-259's is discussed.

As far as crimped connectors pulling loose, most Ham connectors experience 
only a modicum of actual pulling over their lifetime.  It's not like they 
are subjected to a lifetimes worth of continual motion or vibration such as 
on an airplane/ship/vehicle, on a daily or per flight basis.

Gary J
N5BAA

-----Original Message----- 
From: Kerry Sandstrom
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2014 6:12 PM
To: hcarc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [HCARC] Crimped vs Soldered Coax Connectors??

Fact 1:  I believe the primary factor for the military is the training
required.  You use a tool to strip the cable and you use a crimp tool to
put the connector on.  I believe that a single tool can be used for most
if not all military connectors and cables.

Fact 2:  True, and in addition, with the demise of tin-lead solder, it
has only become harder to make a good solder connection. Copper-tin
solder requires higher temperatures and will not work with old-fashioned
tinned wires.

Fact 3:  I believe it takes a good large soldering iron to properly
attach PL-259 connectors.

Facdt 4 (Maybe):  I don't know how easy it is to find extra crimp
sleeves (ferrules, I think they are called).

I use a lot of type N connectors.  But basically, if it is HF and the
equipment I'm using uses UHF connectors, that is what I use. For small
connectors, I'm partial to type TNC although I also use some type BNC
and also SMA.  For HF, type UHF is perfectly adequate.  For VHF, type N
should be used.  I don't have any crimp connectors.  I prefer solder
connectors because I find them easier to reuse.  Reuse is important
because some of the connectors are extremely expensive new.  Used
connections are inexpensive because many of them are seldom seen so not
very popular.  If you use cable with aluminum foil insulation you don't
have much choice, you have to use a crimp connector.

Although I've been told the strength of the crimp connector - cable
mechanical connection is better than the old solder connectors, my
experience has been that crimp connectors are more likely to pull off.
By the way, I used to have several military techs working for me in the
mid-70's.  They were quite adept at replacing solder connectors on our
test cables.  When we converted to crimp connectors, they were equally
adept.

Kerry

Kerry

On 9/22/2014 4:08 PM, Gary J - N5BAA wrote:
> 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
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