[TowerTalk] Fwd: F-connectors

[Kirk Kleinschmidt]

Hans,
F connectors and RG-6/RG-11 (modern CATV variants) have their detractors, perhaps with some good reasons, but I have been using them exclusively from 1.8 - 144 MHz for the past 20 years, with no substantive issues.
I use F-to-UHF adapters as necessary, but I also use a couple of non-mother-approved ways to attach PL-259s directly to RG-6/RG-11 (see youtube videos by a 4-land Old-Timer).

Perhaps the best way to use them is to pick up a few crimp/solder PL-259 connectors made for RG-6. They're available at www.therfc.com, and they're high quality (about $2 each). Don't try to source these from eBay or Alibaba, cuz you'll get the junky ones, for sure. The only "good" ones I've found have been at the aforementioned address.

Aside from one bad length of cable, I have been very satisfied/successful using this stuff from 1 to 100W. Others have reported success at 500-1000 W, but I'd stop at 500 W on HF, perhaps at 100 W above 6 meters (just because).
After years of using RG-6 from dc to daylight, I tested several 100-foot lengths in the field for cable/connector losses, etc, with no problems detected.

Oh -- and the high-quality Snap N Seal brand compression fittings are SUPER DUPER and so easy to use. 

The cable has loss figures equivalent or slightly better than generic RG-8, and if you want even better specs, use RG-11.

Important: Most RG-6/RG-11 is copper clad steel (CCS). Make sure you DON'T nick or cut the thin copper layer when prepping for connectors or you'll be transmitting through steel coax...

The skin depth may be problematic on 160 meters, but my in-place tests of actual working installations showed no problems. YMMV!

Regards,
--Kirk, NT0Z  Survivor of Snowpocalypse 1 to 5  Rochester, MN

 My book, "Stealth Amateur Radio," is now available from www.stealthamateur.com and on the Amazon Kindle (soon) 

    On Thursday, March 14, 2019 12:10 PM, Hans Hammarquist via TowerTalk <towertalk at contesting.com> wrote:
 

  Would it be possible to use the F-connector in a transmitting situation? I have never thought about it that way but considering how good the connector actually is (I think it is better than the "old, trusted UHF"-connector) it should be possible to use it instead of PL-239 for the slimmer cables. Any idea what power it could take?
Just my penny,
Hans - N2JFS
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Clay Autery <KY5G at montac.com>
To: john <john at kk9a.com>; towertalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Thu, Mar 14, 2019 10:32 am
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] F-connectors

Actually, there are VERY high quality F-connectors available with gold plated center pins (crimp and/or solder), ptfe insulation, et al.Canare makes excellent broadcast quality cable and connectors in F and BNC.And they make the tooling to along with the materials.73,Clay, KY5GSent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------From: john at kk9a.com Date: 3/13/19  21:00  (GMT-06:00) To: towertalk at contesting.com Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] F-connectors I am wondering why F connectors are popular in amateur radio stations?  Theyare not waterproof, maybe partially if an o-ring is added. Basically asTerry noted they are a cheap connector that has no center pin other the coaxwire. John 
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