[TowerTalk] Hardline - PL-259

[K8RI]

On 9/25/2012 3:19 AM, David Gilbert wrote:
>
> The Watts (brand name) A-200 fitting is a 7/16" female to 3/8" tube
> compression adapter, and the 7/16" end fits perfectly on an SO-239
> barrel.   It literally is an exact match.   Not sure what you mean by a
> PL-259 barrel.

The SO239 and PL259 connectors for coax use identical parts except for 
the center conductor.  The part that fits the braid (the barrel) is the 
same on both.

>
> If you file the threads down just slightly on the 3/8" end (minus the
> compression nut that comes with it) of the A-200 it makes a snug fit
> INSIDE 1/2" copper plumbing tube, which in turn makes a nice fit OVER
> the copper jacket of LDF-50A 1/2" Heliax ... which was my original
> interest although I suspect something similar might be usable for 1/2"
> CATV cable.

A half inch compression coupling will compress enough to fit both the 
connector and the outside of the 1/2 CATV coax.  No machining, no 
soldering except for the center pin.  Use the Aluminum Noalox though to 
prevent dissimilar metal metal degradation.

I just trim the jacket of the coax back to that the center conductor can 
be soldered into the UHF center conductor.  Typically the jacket will 
bottom out half way through the compression coupling.

No sense either over thinking it or over engineering it. Just keep the 
stuff lined up as you tighten the compression fittings.
Yes with adapters you and work out an almost perfect fit. You do not 
want an under size outer conductor if running QRO as it may lower the 
breakdown voltage too much.

73

Roger (K8RI)



>
> 73,
> Dave   AB7E
>
>
> On 9/24/2012 11:38 PM, K8RI wrote:
>> On 9/25/2012 1:47 AM, David Gilbert wrote:
>>>
>>> I don't know about what fits or doesn't fit CATV hardline, but I do know
>>> that there is a common brass fitting that fits an SO-239 barrel
>>> exactly.  Check out an "A-200" fitting in the plumbing section of Home
>>> Depot.
>>>
>>
>> The half inch compression fitting is  fairly close fit to the PL259
>> barrel. Not exact but close.  Just take your coax connector into
>> Lowe's or Home Depot...or your local hardware store and you'll find
>> some that fit.
>>
>>
>>> 73,
>>> Dave  AB7E
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 9/24/2012 9:00 PM, Hans Hammarquist wrote:
>>>> I have s.k. TV-hard-line (70 ohms) coax that I am planning to use for
>>>> my set-up. My idea was to attach some bulk-head SO-239
>>
>> The bulkhead connectors are threaded full length and make poor
>> adapters.  There are versions just like PL259s, but female that make
>> very good adapters to compression fittings.
>>
>> to the cable
>>>> with the help of brass oil compression coupling (I'm told that's the
>>>> way to go.) I measured the cable and the outside of the aluminium
>>>> shield is 1/2 inch (give or take a few .001". The bulk-head connector
>>>> seems more like 9/16" and I don't know if there is such an animal as
>>>> 1/2 - 9/16" adapter around the oil couplings. (The inner conductor
>>>> seems to be wide enough to fit, if I do "some magic with the inner
>>>> connector.)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Can I turn down the thread on a bulkhead from 9/16" to 1/2" or will
>>>> that give too little material left for strength?
>>
>> Normally you should be able to turn the threads down as you only have
>> to take off 1/32nd of an inch and that should still leave enough
>> material be far stronger than the half inch TV coax which is itself
>> quite fragile. Bends need to be on the order of about an 18" radius
>> for safety.  The 1/2" stuff is very easy to kink.
>>
>> It's easier though just to find a female UHF coax connector and
>> connect it to the coax using a compression coupling.
>>
>>  Is there some
>>>> plumbing thread that (almost) fit the SO-239 thread? Any suggestions?
>>
>> No.  Pipe thread is tapered and much more coarse than the threads on
>> UHF connectors.
>>
>> Look at the 4th and 5th photos down on
>> http://www.rogerhalstead.com/ham_files/conn.htm
>> There is a female connector made exactly like the PL-259, except it's a
>> female connector and it fits the compression coupling the same way.
>> It's a very easy to make adapter.
>>
>> Check the coax dealers and you should find the female version.
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Roger (K8RI)
>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> As usual, I am open for ideas. (E.g. I will move my shack to the tower
>>>> so I don't need any catenary between my tower and my shack.)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hans -N2JFS
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>>>
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