[TowerTalk] N - clamp style connector

[Gene Fuller]

I realize that there are many out there who are more "pure" than I and 
insist on Type N even for HF. Perhaps I have just been lucky, but I have had 
good luck just using good quality UHF connectors with two or three layers of 
good quality vinyl tape stretched good and tight and liberally coated with 
RTV. I have temperatures 0-90 F, lots of rain,snow and ice, and "full 
power". No failures in ten years.
I'm a little skeptical about relying on just one layer of shrink tubing, 
glue or no glue. Maybe a first layer with glue and a second layer without 
the glue just for extra protection. It would sure be a lot neater than tape 
and RTV!  I guess that with a Type N would really be safe,.and neat, once 
you got the right connector and installed it properly.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gene Fuller" <w2lu at rochester.rr.com>
To: "Tower and HF antenna construction topics." <towertalk at contesting.com>; 
<w4lde at numail.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 8:28 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] N - clamp style connector


>I hear that some boaters use heatshrink tubing that has a sealer glue 
>inside
> it that keeps water out.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <TexasRF at aol.com>
> To: <w4lde at numail.org>; <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 5:43 PM
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] N - clamp style connector
>
>
>> Hi Ron, the heat shrink alone is not water tight. Your plan to use the
>> fusing tape is the very best way to seal the connectors. The fusing tape
>> of
>> coarse needs uv protection and even cheap vinyl tape will work fine for
>> that.
>>
>> 73,
>> Gerald K5GW
>>
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 3/10/2010 4:39:12 P.M. Central Standard Time,
>> w4lde at numail.org writes:
>>
>> Thanks  to all that replied, I remember that I never had soldered the
>> shield and  thought that was the correct method.
>>
>> I will also as many have suggested  use some heat shrink for stability as
>> well as helping with water  intrusion.  Was planning on #33 or #88 tape
>> plus some fusion style  tape to help with the final connections.
>>
>> Again thanks to everyone for  your comments.
>>
>> 73 de
>> Ron W4LDE
>>
>>
>> On 3/10/2010 3:18 PM,  TexasRF at aol.com wrote:
>>> Ron, the clamping ring for N connectors is  nickel plated. You will turn
>> the
>>>   coax to charcoal before  successfully soldering the shield to it.
>>>
>>> One of the major  failure modes with N connectors is having the shield
>> work
>>> loose due to  pulling and twisting the cable. A short piece of heat
>>> shrink
>>>  tubing  over the clamping end of the connector and a couple inches of
>> the
>>> coax will  provide excellent reinforcement and improved  reliability.
>>>
>>> The recommended connector installation procedure  has worked very well
>> for a
>>>   lot of years.
>>>
>>>  73,
>>> Gerald K5GW
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> In a message  dated 3/10/2010 12:00:01 P.M. Central Standard Time,
>>> w4lde at numail.org  writes:
>>>
>>> Just  getting ready to install some a new beam  and  coax plus N style
>>> male  connectors on a new  tower.  It's been awhile since I last used 
>>> one
>>> (N  style)  and have reviewed via the WEB and the ARRL handbook
>>> recommended   installation methods and find two different methods with
>>> respect to  the  barrel and shield connection.
>>>
>>> The barrel I am  referring to is the small  piece were the shield is
>>> folded back  over and then compressed and held in  place by a O-ring,
>>> washer  and screw in clamp.
>>>
>>> The ARRL handbook  does not call for  any solder of the shield to the
>>> barrel peace but on one  ham web  sites recommends that the shield be
>>> soldered to the barrel  insert  piece and then assembled the same way as
>>> the non  soldered.  If I  remember and it has been some time since I
>>> used
>>> N type but I believe I did  not solder the shield but relied  on the
>>> compression and clamp fittings to  make good contact from  the shield to
>>> the N fitting.
>>>
>>> Would  appreciate  your opinion, to SOLDER or NOT to SOLDER.
>>>
>>> 73 de
>>>  Ron  W4LDE
>>>  _______________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>>
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