I have 1/2 inch CATV hardline feeding my verticals on 80m 4 Square. I just
used about six inches of .625" OD (5/8") x .058" wall tubing slit about 2.5
inches and four times on either end to fit over the back of the PL-259 and
outer jacket of hardlline and used some hose clamps. Takes about ten minutes
start to finish, and cost is minimal. A little Penatrox, some Scotch 88,
soldered center conductor and I've not had a problem in 8 years.
Stan, K5GO
Sent from my iPad
On Nov 7, 2012, at 10:49 PM, K8RI <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net> wrote:
> On 11/7/2012 10:28 PM, Kelly Taylor wrote:
>> One thing I considered but never tried was simply using a double-female UHF
>> adapter, with the centre conductor of the hardline exposed so that when it
>> fit into one end of the adapter the end of the adapter was up against the
>> aluminum jacket. Then 1/2-inch ID aluminum tubing slitted at both ends could
>> be compressed into the jacket and adapter threads with hose clamps.
>
> I've never tried it, but "I think" the jacket is both thin enough and soft
> enough it could be compressed onto the connector with out slitting. You also
> might be able to turn a couple of brass or hard aluminum alloy to press over
> the ends to hold the jacket tight onto the fitting. It'd take some
> experimenting as there probably isn't more than 1 or 2 thousandths between
> too loose and too tight for the rings.
>
> Or skin the threads off so it'd make a tight fit inside.
>
>
>>
>> There might need to be some work done to the centre conductor of the
>> hardline to ensure a snug fit and it probably needs some kind of oxide
>
> 3/4" hard line fits just fine. The half inch is a bit small for a direct fit.
> OTOH you might be able to redo the center connector so it would clamp onto a
> smaller center connector.
>
>> inhibitor between the aluminum and the body of the adapter, as well as good
>> waterproofing.
>>
>
> 73
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>> More elegant might be to choose an ID and wall thickness for the tubing such
>> that you could swag it to fit over the aluminum jacket AND tap it to accept
>> the threads on the UHF adapter. Then perhaps you only need one hose clamp.
>>
>> 73, kelly
>> ve4xt
>>
>>
>> On 11/7/12 11:06 PM, "K8RI" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net> wrote:
>>
>>> On 11/7/2012 9:20 PM, Missouri Guy wrote:
>>>> FWIW...I needed connectors for the 1/2 aluminum coax
>>>> quite a few years ago. I didn't think of K8RI's neat idea
>>>> of the brass fittings back then. What I did was to make
>>>> an adapter-sleeve with a ~1" length of 1/2" i.d. aluminum tubing.
>>>> The tubing fit over the standard PL-259 connector
>>>> and the coax.
>>>>
>>>> I found a thick steel washer in the junk box
>>>> that is about the same size as the CUTTER WHEEL in a copper tubing
>>>> cutter.
>>>> I rounded off the edge of the washer and installed it in the
>>>> cutter. I then used the "cutter" to ROLL two indented rings
>>>> on each end of the aluminum tubing (4 rings total). That worked, but I
>>>> found that the aluminum coax was TOO SOFT to "fuse"
>>>> to the aluminum sleeve. I solved that problem by making
>>>> some hard plastic inserts that "just fit" inside the coax.
>>>>
>>>> I removed the foam inside the coax with a homebrew
>>>> hollow "drill" made from a chunk of mild steel so the
>>>> inserts could slide in. It worked well and the connections
>>>> are still good many years later.
>>>>
>>>> Yeah, you may have to use a small lathe to make the inserts, but I know
>>>> some of you have one in your shop. Those inserts may be needed
>>>> *IF* you find that the brass compression fittings that Roger used
>>>> are somewhat loose when compressed over the soft aluminum
>>>> coax.
>>>
>>> I like your idea and I'm trying to picture it a bit better. It has a
>>> certain elegance to it, but unfortunately takes a bit more work and I've
>>> noticed a lot of us are not extremely gifted on ambition...at least I'm
>>> not. OTOH I can't resist a challenge, particularly if it doesn't cost much.
>>>
>>> I wonder if a swagging tool couldn't be built to fit the jacket tightly
>>> onto the PL-259 Barrel? This would give a large area of contact and
>>> might be strong enough to hold well. The problem with swagging onto the
>>> barrel is the Aluminum tends to spring back. OTOH swagging to an ID
>>> slightly undersize with a bit of a bell on the end of the jacket and
>>> then pressing the PL-259 into the end of the coax jacket might work
>>> well. Now some one just needs to make the tools to do this well. <:-)).
>>>
>>> As in writing computer programs, there are usually far more than one way
>>> to get the same result. My approach was neat and easy, but you are
>>> correct in that using the compression fitting the coax is a bit small
>>> for the fitting. It will tighten down fine, but it takes care to keep
>>> things straight. Of course if you have a good lathe and a bit of skill,
>>> you can build the equivalent of of a 7-16 DIN. With some brass rod of
>>> the proper size you can also build the connectors used on Heliax. Those
>>> are fairly simple, but it takes about a 4" rod and that brass rod is
>>> kinda pricey!
>>>
>>> 73
>>>
>>> Roger (K8RI)
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> 73,
>>>> Charlie, N0TT
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:01:07 -0500 K8RI <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
>>>> writes:
>>>>> On 11/7/2012 5:32 PM, Tom KD8DEG wrote:
>>>>>> I use standard copper pipe compression fittings if the cable is
>>>>> the
>>>>>> aluminum 75 ohm cabel tv line. They work great.
>>>>>
>>>>> A couple ways of making adapters.
>>>>> http://www.rogerhalstead.com/ham_files/conn.htm
>>>>>
>>>>> 73
>>>>>
>>>>> Roger (K8RI)
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Tom KD8DEG
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Maki"
>>>>> <lists@oakcom.org>
>>>>>> To: "towertalk" <towertalk@contesting.com>
>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2012 10:00 AM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Fwd: Attach a PL-259 to a 1/2" hardline
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Well, they do make female F connectors for anything up to .750,
>>>>> but
>>>>>>> normally it's terminated with pin connectors. The pin connectors
>>>>>>> though are useful as a starting point to transition to UHF.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -Steve K8LX
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 11/7/2012 9:49 AM, Jim W7RY wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Is this 75 Ohm CATV cable?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> If so, there are NO standard adapters or connectors. The cable
>>>>> TV
>>>>>>>> industry does not use "connectors" on this type of coax. The
>>>>> cable
>>>>>>>> connects directly to the device through a hole in the side of
>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> device.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> 73
>>>>>>>> Jim W7RY
>>>>>>>
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