[TowerTalk] Fwd: Attach a PL-259 to a 1/2" hardline

Thu Nov 8 07:00:49 EST 2012

This technique has been used here for the last 20 years.

BUT I have used 3/4 inch 75 ohm CATV hardline.  Core out the dielectric, slot the outer jacket, insert the PL258 double female adapter, hose clamp the adapter onto the outer jacket.  Weather seal. Don't forget the exposed adapter is open to weather so be sure to mate with another cable (PL259) and seal that junction.

The center conductor of the 3/4 inch OD cable is just slightly larger than the female contact of the adapter and makes a nice snug fit.  Use penetrox to insure good conductivity on both the center conductor and the threads of the adapter.

I have done all kinds of attachment methods for 1/2 inch cable and PL259's but it has never been as nice as using 3/4 inch hardline.

Regards,

Mark, K1RX

________________________________
 From: Kelly Taylor <ve4xt at mymts.net>
To: K8RI <K8RI-on-TowerTalk at tm.net>; towertalk at contesting.com 
Sent: Wednesday, November 7, 2012 10:28 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Fwd:  Attach a PL-259 to a 1/2" hardline

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.

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
inhibitor between the aluminum and the body of the adapter, as well as good
waterproofing.

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 at 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 at 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 at oakcom.org>
>>>> To: "towertalk" <towertalk at 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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