[Milsurplus] UHF Connectors

[Mike Morrow]

> Speaking of "UHF" connectors, anyone know which was the first
> (US?) equipment that used an SO-239 "UHF" type connector?
> Tim N6CC

Some data;

The SO-239 (navy type-49194) connector was not yet listed in the 1940 Signal Corps General Catalog.  The Navy Type Number Table shows the nt-49194 being added in June 1942.

The USN's 1940 ZB and ZB-1 246 MHz "UHF" homing adapters utilized an early-style coax connector, but the 1942 ZB-2 and ZB-3 adapters use nt-49194 (SO-239) connectors.

The ZB-homing system (and YE transmitter) employed a frequency band (234 to 258 MHz) that was near the highest used by any military set in 1940.  That would have made the development of a suitabble coax transsmission line and connectors attractive for use as soon as possible in ZB/YE homing setz.  That UHF connector system is used the ZB-2 and ZB-3.  It is likely that those were among the first sets using SO-239-family connectors.

That's my candidate system.  What's yours?  Why do you ask?

Mike / KK5F