I agree with Frank, Not that I necessarily think PL-259's are the greatest, they are not. But I have never really learned to put N-connectors together and don't trust my skills at trying it again. For HF I don't think the added expense with any lower loss is worth the difficulty with N-connectors vs. PL-259's. I may be challenged sometimes to get the solder to flow on the PL-259's but I manage somehow. Also the new one's I just got with the screw down back end looks like I will have less trouble with getting a solid connection to the shield. That is where my biggest problem with PL-259's show up. Even up at 2 mtrs which I use sparingly I've got them. If I get serious up there I'll look more into 'how to put on N-connector' but the cost and the possible lower loss I doubt will make any difference with the way I use 2 mtrs compared to how I've always been challenged by N-connectors.
Terry KI7M > On December 6, 2018 at 7:58 AM [email protected] wrote: > > > I agree Clive, there is no reason to switch from high quality UHF > connectors such as Amphenol 83-1SP silver plated connectors > on 6 meters or below. They have much better center pin contact > pressure than N connectors and are much less susceptible to > installation errors by either amateur or professional installers. > > > Older generation N connectors with floating center pins are highly > problematic because its difficult to install the center pin with proper > depth and axial alignment. If the pin is installed so its just a few ten > thousandths of an inch too long, or the axial alignment isn't almost > perfect, the male connector will permanently damage the mating > female connector. If ithe pin is installed just a few ten thousands > of an inch too short the connection will be very unreliable. If for > some reason N connectors must be used, use only the modern > generation of N connectors with captivated center pins. > > > I have hundreds of Amphenol 83-1SP PL-259 connectors in my > station and withour exception they have all been 100% trouble free > for more than thirty years. K3LR has had exactly the same > experience with hundreds of 83-1SP silver plated connectors in > his station. > > > N connectors on HF? No thank you. > > > 73 > Frank > W3LPL > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Clive GM3POI" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Thursday, December 6, 2018 3:42:35 PM > Subject: Re: Topband: Rather use N-type (was Re: The answer to PL-259 > soldering/reliability problems) > > For anyone that doubts the loss of a good 259. Google K2RIW on the subject > who knows a thing or two about UHF and did some numbers on the subject. > I have used for a good long time the Silver plated Teflon with a gold pin > from the RF connection. I usually end up buying 50 at a time. > 73 Clive GM3POI > > -----Original Message----- > From: Topband [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of N2TK, > Tony > Sent: 06 December 2018 15:31 > To: 'GEORGE WALLNER'; [email protected] > Subject: Re: Topband: Rather use N-type (was Re: The answer to PL-259 > soldering/reliability problems) > > I have been using PL-259 connectors forever. I have switched to crimp > connectors when I need to make up a new cable. No sense replacing the > soldered connectors if they are working fine. ThePL-259 is a low loss, easy > to assemble connector for up to at least 6M (nothing higher in frequency > here) that makes good contact and are easy to seal with rescue tape followed > by Scotch 33+. Some of my PL-259's have been in use outside for 40 years and > still look good and work well. I hope manufacturer's don't change. > 73, > N2TK, Tony > > -----Original Message----- > From: Topband <[email protected]> On Behalf Of GEORGE WALLNER > Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2018 9:13 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Topband: Rather use N-type (was Re: The answer to PL-259 > soldering/reliability problems) > > Greg, > I completely agree. For all my outdoors applications I use N connectors. > Unfortunately, amateur radio gear (even seriously expensive gear) is still > built with SO-239 connectors which perpetuate the use PL-259 male > connectors. As a result, my station and my DXpedition gear contain both, > necessitating the use of adaptors. How do we convince manufacturers to > change? > 73, > George > AA7JV/C6AGU > > > > On Thu, 06 Dec 2018 17:00:53 +1300 > Greg-zl3ix <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > I continue to be mystified by the fact that the amateur radio > > community insists on using PL259 connectors. N-type are much more > > reliable (used by professional communicators), low cost, can be > > crimped easily and quickly and have a well-defined impedance right up > > into GHz frequencies. > > > > Back in 2005 I started having contact problems with the connector on > > my SteppIR 3-element. There was a thin layer of oxide that built up > > around the centre pin of the PL259. I had had similar problems with > > other connectors around my shack. I decided to change my entire > > station, including the SteppIR, to N-type, and have never looked back. > > > > > > 73, Greg, ZL3IX > > > > On 06.12.2018 13:29, Steve Ireland wrote: > > G'day > >> > >> About five years I discovered this fool-proof and brilliant > > way to solder PL-259s invented by Bill Maxon N4AR who taught this to > > Tim K3LR. Tim uses this method throughout his contest station and did > > a great job of documenting it - see > > http://www.k3lr.com/engineering/pl259/ > > [1] and it has totally changed my angry and worried attitude towards > > soldering PL-259s. > >> > >> The key component is Amphenol 83-1SP connectors. > > The connector body is silver and the shell is nickel and you can buy > > them from Mouser or DX Engineering. > >> > >> Vy 73 > >> > >> Steve, VK6VZ > >> > > --- > >> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus > > software. > >> https://www.avast.com/antivirus [2] > >> _________________ > > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband [3] - Topband > > Reflector > > > > > > Links: > > ------ > > [1] > > http://www.k3lr.com/engineering/pl259/ > > [2] > > https://www.avast.com/antivirus > > [3] http://www.contesting.com/_topband > > _________________ > > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > > Reflector > > _________________ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector > > _________________ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector > > > --- > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > https://www.avast.com/antivirus > > _________________ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector > > _________________ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
