[TowerTalk] Some advice about crimp ;type coax connectors

Tue Nov 18 22:10:23 EST 2014

Which brings a question to mind. Why is there not available for sale a 
decent battery powered soldering iron. Sure would be nice when in the air 
not to be tied to an AC power cord. I did a search (probably not very deep) 
and found some battery powered irons but nothing that would deal with a few 
UHF connectors out and away from the 'house'. A friend from Australia who 
was in the 2-way radio business had a couple he brought when he immigrated 
from Oz but I've been unable to find that they are made anymore.

Anyone have information on such a tool for use whilst up in the air??

Don W7WLL

-----Original Message----- 
From: Roger (K8RI) on TT
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2014 2:08 PM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Some advice about crimp ;type coax connectors

On 11/18/2014 2:04 AM, Jim Thomson wrote:

As I stated early on, my preference is 7-16 except for price.
The Times Wire N-Type are non captive.  At the time, I couldn't find any.

I use crimp type for the same reason.  I have over 100 connectors in my
system and making crimp connections while a 10' "up there" sure beats
soldering them, particularly this time of year.
OTOH that's no longer a problem as I can no longer climb and have to pay
to have it done. Again the crimp save time and now, money. <:-))

I can't see N-type connectors as superior to UHF except for UHF and SHF
and again the 7-16 are superior.

Agree with you completely Jim.

73

Roger (K8

> Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 00:36:55 -0500
> From: "Roger (K8RI) on TT" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk at tm.net>
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Some advice about crimp ;type coax connectors
>
> I've used a number of connectors, most of which are the Times Wire crimp
> connectors.  I like them as they come with a length of heat shrink.
> They are a very well made connector, but with the 100' vertical run
> still need the loops at top and bottom.
>
> As to a loop,  Why never?   I must disagree.  I see no reason not to use
> them and a number for using them.
> As long as the loop is not too tight, center migration is not a problem,
> nor is lightening with the shield bonded to the tower, top and bottom.
>
> The same for tape. I do not like the large ty-wraps as they put too much
> pressure on a small spot. and two wraps ever two feet gives a secure
> hold. I run the coax along a tower leg, inside the tower, bonded to the
> top and bottom of the tower. Put on in reasonable weather, I've never
> had any come off or loose.  Tape in cold weather is not a good
> idea.After this many years, I've been given no reason to change.
>
> 73
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>
> ##  are the Times Wire type-N  crimp connectors.... captivated or non 
> captivated ?
> At the telco I worked at, the cell dept would use crimp style type N 
> connectors.
> Crimp style were used, simply cuz they had a heck of a lot of connectors 
> to install.
> In some applications, > 100 connectors had to be installed.
>
> ##  The story I got years ago was that both captivated and non captivated 
> type N
> connectors were available,and that the captivated type N  was the 
> preferred one to
> use.
>
> ##  Just b4 I retired in nov 2009, they had just converted to 7-16 Din. 
> Most of the other
> cell cos  had already been using 7-16 Dins since day 1.   If you have ever 
> seen a type N
> on a huge piece of heliax, you will soon see why.   Looking at a coffee 
> mug size connector
> with a puny type N pin is laughable. A type N pin is the same as the pin 
> on a BNC.
>
> ##  I was going to embark on my own type N conversion program and gave up 
> on it.
> UHF connectors have bigger pins than type N.  There is no RF  on the pin 
> anyway..its
> all flowing along the barrel  of the mating female that the pin engages.
>
> ## Andrew stopped making UHF connectors for .875 inch heliax a long time 
> ago.
> LC connectors are out of vogue these days.  The only game in town is the 
> type N and the
> 7-16Din.   Andrew, Times, etc, all offer both type N and 7-16 Din for 
> their cables.
> If you have ever seen a 7-16 Din,  you wont be using a type N anytime 
> soon. The
> pin in a 7-16 Din is huge, like a .22 shell.   The OD of the female that 
> the pin engages
> is 7mm OD.   The ID of the mating sleeve is 16mm.
>
> ##  You can also get crimp style 7-16 dins for ANY cable..including 
> RG-393, 58-U, heliax,
> LMR-400/600/1200,  etc.
>
> ##  I still  use plane UHF connectors for stuff like 213 U... albeit they 
> are silver plated
> and teflon dielectric.   The silver plated type are real EASY to 
> solder.... vs the nickel
> plated types.
>
> ##  A loop at the top and bottom of the tower is not going to hurt 
> anything...provided its
> a big enough turn radius.
>
>
> Jim   VE7RF
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
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-- 

73

Roger (K8RI)

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