[TenTec] BNC vs UHF connectors for HF 100w use

[geraldj@isunet.net (Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer)]

N males mate to BNC females without stretching the BNC female center pin
excessively. Most of the pin pieces are larger in the N connector. The
threaded ring of the N connector holds the connector pin and the slotted
fingers for the braid connection in alignment better and more reliably.
BNC at UHF and for measuring systems tend to be unpredictable shields
and to have unpredictable insertion loss as cables are moved. TNC is the
same as BNC but with a threaded locking ring instead of a bayonet
locking ring and tends to be better than BNC at UHF. The full sized N
connector pin accepts the center conductor from RG-8 coax which is much
larger than the center pin from RG-58 to conduct heat away from the
connector pins better. The N ground fingers generally are stronger than
BNC or TNC to also be more effective conductors and better shields.

While N males will mate with BNC (and TNC) female connectors physically,
the impedance matching of either series is not maintained. BNC and TNC
have teflon dielectric around the pin while the N connector has only
air.

73, Jerry, K0CQ

-- 
Entire content copyright Dr. Gerald N. Johnson. Reproduction by
permission only.