Joe,
You may want to order one or two at first and determine if it is a one-step
prep process (if important to you) that includes a flanged ferrule like the
Multicomp connector. The flanged ferrule is what separates the connector
from the others like it. Or, is the braid flared and/or soldered onto a
retaining ring like the RF Industries UHF clamp product? That product is
assembled like the male "N" where the braid is flared onto a ring and does
not have the same one-step prep and gripping benefit as the Multicomp.
Paul, W9AC
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Giacobello, K2XX" <k2xx@swva.net>
To: <n4zr@contesting.com>
Cc: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2011 5:06 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Clamp Type UHF/PL-259 Connector (Epilogue)
> Pete, I did a search on Ebay and found another supplier of what
> appears to be the same connector. This supplier is located in Shanghai
> rather than Hong Kong. The price is $2.79 per connector and $0.99 each
> for shipping. So the effective price per connector is $3.78. It still
> seems to be a good deal if they work as well and easily as you describe.
>
> The item number is 270634166510.
>
> 73, Joe
> K2XX.
>
> On 2/11/2011 2:48 PM, Pete Smith wrote:
>> Coincidentally, yesterday I received a couple of clamp-type PL-259s that
>> I ordered from a Chinese vendor on E-Bay -- the two connectors,
>> including air mail, totalled only US$6. They are not quite the same -
>> the shells are nickelpl , the inner conductor is gold flashed, and the
>> innards are in several different pieces - see
>> <http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270680278483>. The
>> center conductor and insulator are not captive, as it appears Paul's are
>> - this allows full assembly and test before soldering.
>>
>> I just put one together with minimal wrench work, and then took it
>> apart. The clamping appears very good both electrically and from the
>> standpoint of water-proofing.
>>
>> I think I'm in love. Now if only they have a size for RG-58/8X.
>>
>> 73, Pete N4ZR
>>
>> The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at
>> www.conteststations.com
>> The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at
>> reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
>> spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000
>>
>>
>>
>> On 2/11/2011 1:12 PM, Paul Christensen wrote:
>>> A few weeks ago, Ian, GM3SEK suggested looking into a clamp-type
>>> UHF/PL-259
>>> connector (not crimp) that offered easy assembly and a weather-resistant
>>> backing for outdoor installations. The only soldering required is for
>>> the
>>> inner conductor.
>>>
>>> I ordered a dozen connectors through Newark Electronics and the shipment
>>> arrived today. I had a RG-214 jumper that needed shortening so I tried
>>> the
>>> new connectors this morning.
>>>
>>> http://www.newark.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?SKU=94M6035
>>>
>>> These connectors are specific to the larger RG-213/214 and LMR400 class
>>> of
>>> cables. However Multicomp offers a smaller clamp-style connector for
>>> RG-58.
>>>
>>> Cable prep for the Multicomp clamp UHF connector could hardly be easier.
>>> When Ian said it was a one cut prep with no special tools required, he
>>> meant
>>> it. I used a ChannelLock cable cutter (seen on the bench) but a utility
>>> knife could also be used to make the single cut. I simply took the
>>> cable
>>> cutter to rotate a single cut at one time through the jacket, braid,
>>> dielectric, and stopped at the inner conductor. The jacket, braid, and
>>> dielectric are spun off in one twist and discarded. Next, a flanged
>>> metallic and non-metallic bushing are inserted onto the end of the
>>> cable.
>>> The result looks like this:
>>>
>>> http://72.52.250.47/images/PL-259-1.jpg
>>>
>>> You can see I first installed the connector on a section of discarded
>>> LMR400
>>> for a trial. Notice the end clamp and red non-metallic bushing on the
>>> cable. The connector inner pin must be milled out just a bit to
>>> accommodate
>>> the LMR400's solid inner conductor. I inserted a 7/64 drill bit and
>>> twisted
>>> until the opening widened. This step is not required with the RG cables
>>> and
>>> may not be necessary with other LMR400 variants like UF.
>>>
>>> After completing the connector, I wanted to disassemble it to determine
>>> difficulty. It was a super-easy to remove just by re-heating the inner
>>> conductor and unscrewing the end clamp. Next, I re-used the same
>>> connector
>>> on my RG-214 jumper. Here's the end result:
>>>
>>> http://72.52.250.47/images/PL-259-2.jpg
>>>
>>> The end clamp screws into the body using two adjustable open-ended
>>> wrenches -- similar to installing an "N" type connector. The cable at
>>> the
>>> clamp end is fully sealed and the connector body absolutely does not
>>> rotate.
>>>
>>> A few comments:
>>>
>>> 1) This connector is weather-resistant between the nut and connector
>>> body.
>>> Unlike an "N" type, the threaded shell does not form a seal onto the
>>> mating
>>> SO-239. That's primarily a limitation of the 'teeth' design used on the
>>> SO-239.
>>>
>>> 2) Unlike a soldered UHF connector, one can visually inspect the work
>>> before
>>> inserting the cable into body of the connector until satisfied that the
>>> prep
>>> is good before soldering the inner conductor. Even then, removal only
>>> requires re-heating the inner conductor. Try that with a soldered
>>> PL-259 on
>>> RG-213/LMR400 cable. Yes, I know there are those who claim they can
>>> visually inspect and remove a soldered PL-259 by pounding the
>>> connector's
>>> dielectric out of the shell with a nut driver. You decide whether
>>> that's
>>> the proper use of the connector and right tool for the job;
>>>
>>> 3) These connectors are not inexpensive but I will now use them for
>>> outdoor
>>> use, while continuing to use crimp connectors indoors. However, since
>>> these
>>> connectors are easily re-used, the initial cost may be offset by
>>> economizing
>>> on re-use in some instances rather than the purchase of new UHF
>>> connectors.
>>>
>>> Paul, W9AC
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> .
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>> TowerTalk@contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>>
>>>
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