[TowerTalk] Re: Soldering PL-259s

[W3YY]

For years I wrestled with how best to install PL-259's.  Soldering seemed
best and I got pretty good at it, but always wondered what I was melting
inside the connector!  I also tried just screwing the connector onto the
braid, which also seemed to work fine, but it always left me with doubts
about the reliability of the connection.

For a while, I went to using N connectors.  They were great, because you
only had to solder the center pin and were reusable.  Unfortunately, I found
that those with non-captive pins on the end of long coax runs had a tendency
to fail in cold weather.  What would happen is that the length of the center
conductor would shrink more than the outer braid and the center pin would be
pulled out of the mating female connector.

I wondered why no one made a connector with a PL-259 front end and a N
series type back end.  This would be, for me, the perfect replacement for
the standard PL-259.  I even considered designing my own and marketing it.
Then I discovered someone beat me to it.  These connectors already exist!
No heavy duty soldering.  The braid is captured in a compression ring
without soldering just like an N connector.  You solder the center conductor
to the pin, which is captive.  Simple to install and reusable by just
unsoldering the center pin and cleaning it out.

Put the big soldering guns and heat sinks away!

73, Bob - W3YY


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Durwydd MacTara" <durwydd at hotmail.com>
To: <tongaloa at alltel.net>; <k2kir at telenet.net>
Cc: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 4:18 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Re: Soldering PL-259s


> Me too! I also use a pair of vice-grips as a heat sink to keep the heat
away
> from the center-pin insulator!
>
>   "Communications" is a People skill, the rest is technology.
>              Durwydd MacTara
>
> >From: tongaloa <tongaloa at alltel.net>
> >To: "Bud Hippisley, K2KIR" <k2kir at telenet.net>
> >CC: towertalk at contesting.com
> >Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Re: Soldering PL-259s
> >Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2003 11:01:56 -0500
> >
> >Yes.
> >I've found the torch best for all antenna soldering outdoors.
> >I use the ubiquitous 'plumbers' torch that costs under $10 at the
hardware
> >store.
> >Indoors, the old American Beauty iron with about 2lb copper tip
> >does the trick.
> >-Bob
> >ah7i
> >
> >Bud Hippisley, K2KIR wrote:
> >
> >>Over the years I've probably butchered more PL-259s than anyone else on
> >>this reflector, but my current opinion is that a 100/250-watt gun is
about
> >>minimum for the job, especially if you're going to solder any of the
> >>connectors outdoors.  I've determined the hard way that the faster I can
> >>get the cable shield and connector up to soldering temperature, the less
> >>damage I'm going to cause.  On cold windy days I've even started using a
> >>small propane torch -- without the soldering adapter --just bring the
tip
> >>of the blue flame up to the parts to be soldered.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >
> >See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> >Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
any
> >questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >
> >_______________________________________________
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>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Make your home warm and cozy this winter with tips from MSN House & Home.
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>
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
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