[NLRS] LMR400 and N connectors

[David Palm]

Hello all,

In preparation for this weekend I was able to get my newly built 222 and 432
quagis up 8 and 10 feet in the air last night and apply some RF to them.
Thanks to Todd, KC9BQA, for helping me test them on the air.  We were able
to make the path on both bands, although 432 was extremely light.  I was
shooting straight into the foliage of a large pine tree, so that may have
made a difference.

My real question concerns N connectors.  I was scrambling to get two new
feedlines ready yesterday afternoon and, to my dismay, the pins on some
surplus N connectors that I had laying around are too small for the center
conductor of the LMR400.  And I can't really just file it down a bit since
it's copper-coated aluminum and it can't be soldered once it's been reduced
in size.  So, am I correct that I will need to buy special Ns for the
LMR400?

On that same note, I was planning on just going with the solder-pin style.
But I have heard a number of people advocate strongly for the crimp-style
connectors.  I'd rather avoid the cost of the crimping tool, but I wonder if
anybody has some feedback on that question.

Thanks and 73,

David  W9HQ