[TowerTalk] Selecting Coax connectors

[Steve Maki]

In my earlier note about DIN connectors and stranded center conductor 
braided cables, I should have said they need a *separate* center pin - 
IOW, loose in the bag before installation. The center pin can be either 
crimp or solder. The important thing to realize is that one piece 
connectors (those with an installed captivated center pin right out of 
the box) are for solid center conductor cables. The stranded center 
conductors need a separately installed center pin. The reason being that 
if you have a center pin that has a small enough ID to accurately fit 
the center conductor, the chances of getting it in the pin without 
folding over a strand is not very good.

Also note that in commercial installations, especially cell sites, 
you'll never see a crimped connector of any kind, nor braided coax of 
any kind, except for a few applications like the site GPS antennas where 
PIM is not an issue.

-Steve K8LX

  9/6/2016 1:42 AM, Roger (K8RI) on TT wrote:

> As a "personal choice", my hands are no longer steady enough to prevent
> getting solder on the outside of the center pin so I'm relegated to
> using the crimp type although I'd not seen any for the DIN. I would add
> that I can now hold the solder with my left hand if a lot of movement
> isn't required.
> I "would think" if the commercial guys are using crimp, it should be
> reliable enough.
>
> OTOH I think this is a good place for long time users to chime in with
> their experiences.

> On 9/5/2016 Monday 8:44 PM, Bob K6UJ wrote:
>> Roger,
>>
>> Great overview on connectors !
>> One thing that I am wondering about is whether or not to get the
>> solder type
>> center pin on the DIN connectors.  I see them clamp or crimp style for
>> the outer shield and also
>> solder or non solder on the center pin.  I like the crimp style outer
>> and clamp is fine too, but not sure
>> if getting a non solder center pin is a concern.   Whats your view on
>> the center pin attachment ?
>> I remember discussions here on Tower Talk in the past about center pin
>> creep in type N connectors.
>> The DIN is a different animal though...........
>>
>> Bob
>> K6UJ
>>