I found big differences in N type socket construction where the
centre contact is captive (mostly 4 hole or bulkhead sockets).
With Amphenol, for example, the pin has a bit of knurling to lock
it into the PTFE. The pin pulls out quite easily which is great
for making small sections of air line where getting in to solder
in situ would be difficult - but it's not strong with flexing. The
old UK Greenpar brand (now part of MA/Com Tyco) have a tophat
ferrule on the pin with the PTFE moulded around it - noticably
stiffer and impossible to remove without destroying the connector.
The centre pins on sockets vary too. My beloved Suhner has a
design with 6 tiny slots forming the tulip rather than the 4 wider
spaced springs on most. I don't know if it makes a big difference
with contact resistance or reliability, but it sure looks a whole
lot nicer.
It's a shame C types didn't become more popular - they combine
many of the best bits of 259 and N; constant impedance, sealing,
big centre pin.
Steve
> The other (huge) thing not being mentioned is weatherproofing.
>
> I have both weatherproof and non, and the diff in price between flavors is
> nil:
> ie, REAL weatherproof PL259s are the same price as their N and BNC
> counterparts.
>
> The PL\SO239 connector is SO MUCH MORE healthy, though. I converted a 10
> meter
> vertical to N connectors before I discovered weatherproofPL\SOs. I get 3
> inches of ice, and over 100 MPH winds here. Weatherproofing is a BIG deal.
>
> The N males failed 3 times in 1 winter. The center socket wriggled around
> from
> having the gamma direct mounted and would hollow out. The SO239 I'd replaced
> had been in 3 complete winters here, and was over 30 years old. I put it
> back
> after the 3rd N failure, gorilla snotted the SO connector, and used gasketed
> PL259s since. NO more problems since.
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