[HCARC] Crimped vs Soldered Coax Connectors??

Tue Sep 23 21:32:31 EDT 2014

Gary,

If you look at my e-mail on the subject, I said I use a lot of type N 
connectors.  I went on to say that if it is for HF and the equipment I'm 
using uses UHF connectors, then I use UHF connectors. For VHF and up I 
have replaced the UHF SO-239 sockets with type N sockets.  My Collins 
32V-3 uses a type N socket for HF so the T/R relay and filter I use with 
it has type N connectors. R-390/R-390A's use twin-ax connectors and type 
C connectors. Hammarlund Super Pro SP-600's use a different type of 
Twin-ax connector.  75A-3's use a terminal strip.  For HF at different 
times companies have used a bunch of unusual connectors at HF.  I've 
replaced the UHF sockets on my VHF/UHF converters with type N or BNC.  
I've added SO-239 sockets to some of my older receivers.

UHF connectors aren't great but they do work.  They are a lot better 
than the RCA phono plugs that Heathkit and others used on a lot of their 
rigs!  Weatherproof is definitely better, however, a lot of coax cable 
is not good enough.  Much of it is not weatherproof.  In those cases the 
connector doesn't matter.  By the way, where did the 37 Ohm connector 
impedance come from?  I'm sure the impedance for UHF connectors isn't 
constant and I'm sure that when used with a reducer for RG-58, RG-59  
and the so-called RG-8 mini the impedances are different in every case.  
At HF and amateur power levels it just doesn't matter.

Incidently, there are different N and BNC connectors for 50 and 75 Ohm 
cables and they are not compatible with each other.  Not only that, if 
you try to mate a 50 Ohm connector to a 75 Ohm connector you will damage 
the connectors.  They have different MIL numbers so even with the better 
connectors, all are not created equal.

I agree with John, K5XA, there are a lot of trashy connectors out 
there.  Hamfests are not the only place they show up.  and UHF isn't the 
only problem.  Amphenol makes a series of N connectors for computer 
interconnects, the old "thick net".  They are cheap but not as rugged as 
RF connectors like 83-ISP.  I actually look for old used PL-259's whichn 
i find are more reliable than a lot of the new ones.  I've seen some 
that are cast vs. machined.  I don't know what metal they use but 
soldering is definitely a challenge.

Bottom line, UHF series connectors have their place.  They are useful at 
HF.  Be careful which ones you buy.  I find Teflon insulation on 
PL-259's not useful.

Kerry

On 9/23/2014 6:59 PM, Gary J - N5BAA wrote:
> But John - guys like Kerry and Eddie the Weather guy, and I am sure 
> more will tell you/me that Amphenol or not, PL-259's are a far 
> inferior coupler to an N connector.  Not only are they not waterproof, 
> they are 37 ohm vs 50 ohm for the N connector (why put a 32 ohm 
> connector - really a number of them into a 50 ohm coax run that we 
> have worked so hard to ensure stays 50 ohms). Much of what I am trying 
> to get at here is for the new Ham (you know the Techs and new Generals 
> - come on Tony Moore pass that Gen test on Sat,!!!) why shouldn't they 
> start out using N connectors??  They have to invest in something and 
> many will tell you the N connector is a better initial investment.  
> What I am hoping to do here is run a dialog on what is best vs what 
> I/we have always done.  I used to have a sign on my desk in the Navy 
> that answered for Junior Officers and even worse Junior Officers with 
> their Chief Petty Officers in tow that said "Just because we have 
> always done something a certain way, doesn't mean we haven't been 
> doing it wrong all along - BE FLEXIBLE, LEARN!!".  I am just trying to 
> learn - to be flexible - I am still so new that I have junior enlisted 
> vs Commander Department Head level knowledge.
>
> Might also be interesting to see what the Texas Army MARS guys are 
> doing with their equipment.
>
> And furthermore, the Reflector has been too darn quiet for far too 
> long - lately it's beginning to be sound like 2 meters or 70 cm in 
> Kerrville.  We need some controversy - stir things up a bit - that's 
> my motto!!
>
> Gary J
> N5BAA
>
> -----Original Message----- From: John K5XA
> Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 2:04 PM
> To: 'Virgil Bierschwale' ; 'Gary J - N5BAA' ; 'Derrell K. Spencer' ; 
> hcarc at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: RE: [HCARC] Crimped vs Soldered Coax Connectors??
>
> I solder all my connectors, and use UHF PL-259, but only Amphenol 83-1SP.
>
> A long, long time ago when I first got started, I was using cheapie 
> hamfest
> connectors. It didn't take long to see the error in my ways, 
> especially when
> it involved connectors on the tower.
>
> Do yourself a big favor and spend the extra bucks.
>
> K5XA John Guida
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HCARC [mailto:hcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Virgil
> Bierschwale
> Sent: Monday, September 22, 2014 8:20 PM
> To: 'Gary J - N5BAA'; 'Derrell K. Spencer'; hcarc at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [HCARC] Crimped vs Soldered Coax Connectors??
>
> Navy radioman here 76 - 82
> We soldered everything, and if it was in the weather, we taped it, and
> copper coated it
>
> Never had a bad connection that way
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HCARC [mailto:hcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Gary J -
> N5BAA
> Sent: Monday, September 22, 2014 6:50 PM
> To: Derrell K. Spencer; hcarc at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [HCARC] Crimped vs Soldered Coax Connectors??
>
> Derrell,
>
> I too am retired Navy (CDR, SC, USN-ret) and ran a number of Aviation 
> Supply
> Activities in the 80's and 90's.  That however, is (Heaven Forbid) 20-30
> years ago and some procedures may have changed.  I understand the Air 
> Force
> has and I can easily check at NAS Corpus with the Supply Response Section
> (SRS) to see if the Navy has too.  I am assuming NAS Corpus has an IMA 
> level
> maintenance facility for the training aircraft.  Might be interesting to
> find out.
>
> Gary J
> N5BAA
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Derrell K. Spencer
> Sent: Monday, September 22, 2014 6:26 PM
> To: hcarc at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [HCARC] Crimped vs Soldered Coax Connectors??
>
> I taught aviation micro miniature (2M) circuit board repair 
> certification in
> the Navy back in the late eighties. The miniature course was five 
> weeks long
> and the micro was three weeks. The miniature curriculum was mostly high
> reliability soldering along with circuit board repair. The micro 
> repair was
> very specialized with high power, stereo microscopes.  The Navy's 
> avionics
> have to "take a licking and keep on ticking" as John Cameron Swayze used.
> Our aircraft  get shot off  the deck and hit hard when landing. Soldering
> connectors is more reliable than crimping when done properly. Crimping by
> definition is deforming.
>
>
> Derrell K. Spencer ATCS(AW) USN, Ret
> KG5BTT
> In God We Trust, All Others We Monitor
> ______________________________________________________________
> HCARC mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2014.0.4765 / Virus Database: 4025/8259 - Release Date: 09/22/14
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> HCARC mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2014.0.4765 / Virus Database: 4025/8259 - Release Date: 09/22/14
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> HCARC mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2014.0.4765 / Virus Database: 4025/8263 - Release Date: 09/23/14
> ______________________________________________________________
> HCARC mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>