[TowerTalk] Ameriton RCS4 and N Connectors

Charlie Gallo Charlie at TheGallos.com
Sun Jul 8 12:44:21 PDT 2012


On 7/8/2012 Jim W7RY wrote:

> There should not be any heat in the first place with 600 watts on SSB or CW.

Not heat from USING the connector - the connector seemed to become intermittant when OUTDOOR temps exceeded circa 90 degs, and the connector was in sunlight under the black wrapping

> 7/16 are a good connector, but an overkill for MOST amateur installations.
> They are a superior connector to the type N, but, they are heavy, (for
> hanging on a dipole) and expensive.

The actual joint is not hanging in air, it is mounted to the house, and grounded

> Again, a PL259 is just fine for HF as long as they are of good quality, and
> installed properly.

I've done MANY 100s of them.  Though only a ham for 11 years, about 30 years ago, back when I was the acting chief Eng of the college TV station, the college Ham station used me as their maintenance guy.  Since then I took and passed both the NASA and WS-6536 wiring classes, despite being an electronics tech, and not officially allowed to hold the certificate.  I just don't like them.  I don't like the design, I don't like the gear required to put them on (and yes, I have the gear, from BIG irons, to resistance soldering gear, to AMP Mil-spec crimpers if you want to go that way).  In another email, you mention wiping off the tip of the PL-259 - if you use resistance soldering gear, you don't get any solder on the outside ;) - not cheap however.  Install 200 or so over the course of one summer, you get fairly good at it, and spoiled if you have the right gear

> In the business, 7/16 is used for low IMD and low passive intermod  at VHF,
> UHF and higher.

Yep, I know.  Basically HIGH power VHF and up "stuff"

Another GOOD reason to use N connectors however - Go price the cost of a UHF connector for Heliax - Now price an N connector.  Not list price, street price.  I'll wait.  Shocking that the PL-259 runs about $35, and the N connectors about $9 (Name brand)

> 73
> Jim W7RY





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