[TowerTalk] Coax Connectors

[Steve Katz]

The photos of the damaged connectors in QST were part of a product review of
an unconventional "crimper" for PL-259s.  It doesn't work well, and damages
the connectors -- even if they're very good connectors.  The standard
PL-259/83-1SP UHF connector was never designed for that.

-WB2WIK/6

-----Original Message-----
From: BRENT BAUM [mailto:brentbaum5323 at msn.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 12:54 PM
To: n0rq-lists at sbcglobal.net; xdavid at cis-broadband.com;
Towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Coax Connectors


There are some nice photos in January's QST that show PL-259's with cracked 
bodies from what must be either a poor crimper or using the wrong type of 
PL-259.. Always go for the quality.

I use a massive old electric iron left me by my father (he helped build the 
moon buggy) that's big enough to solder a patch on a galvanized wash tub. 
Once it is up to temp it heats the connector body quickly and soldering 
through the holes is quick and painless with no distortion of the 
dielectric, etc. A very quick touch and the center conductor is done as 
well. Sometimes in aerospace they really did use the bigger hammer approach.

:)
73, K7MEI, Brent


>From: Dave NØRQ <n0rq-lists at sbcglobal.net>
>To: "David Gilbert" <xdavid at cis-broadband.com>,<Towertalk at contesting.com>
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Coax Connectors
>Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2007 13:31:47 -0600
>
>I've never used crimp connectors like those, but the Times Microwave
>LMR-series "EZ" connectors are great -- though you need to have
>the proper crimping tool.
>
>They have how-to videos at
>http://www.timesmicrowave.com/connectors/videos.shtml
>
>Easy to find the EZ-400-series and EZ-600-series on ebay,
>though finding the UHF versions is nearly impossible -- and
>they are expensive if you pay retail.
>
>
>--
>