First of all I would like to correct a small misconception about the little
side hole in the center pin of all connectors: it is there to provide a
visual verification of the placement of the central wire, NOT for soldering!
It also provides an escapement space, because the deformation of the wire
under the pressure of the crimp has to go somewhere.
Look, guys, the discussion is moot: there is no lossless connector in
existence! The only way to avoid losses here is to solder the coax straight
to the board and do it carefully: that's what Teflon cables are for!
In any case, common sense dictates buying the best connectors on can afford:
putting PL-239 connectors on super expensive cables is an exercise in
futility! You might as well install RCA connectors!
We are talking about losses more dependent on tightening torque than
electrical performance!
Alex 4Z5KS
-----Original Message-----
From: amps-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com] On
Behalf Of Dick Green WC1M
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 7:51 PM
To: 'Carl'; Charles Harpole; amps@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] soldering vs crimping
I'm with Carl on this one. Actually, the crimp N-connectors I use have
center pins designed to be crimped *and* soldered -- there's a little hole
in the side for soldering. I've found that there's so much variation in
center conductor size that crimping *and* soldering makes for the most
secure connection. The UHF crimp connectors I use all require soldering for
the center conductor -- you can't crimp it. As for the shield, there's no
question in my mind that crimping is superior to soldering. It's very
difficult to properly solder shield braid without overheating it and melting
the dielectric. I'm not saying it can't be done -- only that it's tricky.
I've only had a few solder connector failures over the years, but they've
all involved either deformation of the dielectric due to overheating, or
breaking of the shield because it became brittle after soldering.
73, Dick WC1M
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Carl [mailto:km1h@jeremy.mv.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 9:36 AM
> To: Charles Harpole; amps@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [Amps] soldering vs crimping
>
> Ive had commercial installations on my 180' tower for 20 years and
> there has never been a connector problem with the RG-213 or LMR-400
jumpers.
>
> For my own use I do solder the center since Im running more power and
> use 75 Ohm cables with 50 Ohm connectors.
>
> Carl
> KM1H
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Charles Harpole" <k4vud@hotmail.com>
> To: <amps@contesting.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 12:25 AM
> Subject: [Amps] soldering vs crimping
>
>
> >
> > Anyone who thinks a crimp is better than soldering is just fooling
> > himself. Maybe they are equal the day of proper installation, but
> what
> > about 7 years later at the top of the tower in lots of vibration?
> >
> >
> >
> > Of course, it is basically impossible to prove this matter partly
> because
> > "test to destruct" just destructs and tests over time take too long
> for
> > most. But crimping means deforming the material, risking a larger
> change
> > in impedence.
> >
> >
> >
> > 73
> >
> >
> >
> > les Harpole
> > k4vud@hotmail.com
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------
> >> Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 16:33:07 -0400
> >> From: dhallam@knology.net
> >> To: amps@contesting.com
> >> Subject: Re: [Amps] every db lost re Tubes vs. Solid State
> >>
> >> I realize that the investment of a proper crimping tool and dies
> >> for
> UHF
> >> is an investment of not insignificant proportions. But compared to
> the
> >> investment in a modern SS transceiver, it's a small price to pay to
> get
> >> the expensive RF to the antenna. In every comparison test I have
> seen,
> >> crimped connectors were equal to or better than soldered connectors.
> >>
> >> I gave up on soldering braid on PL-239's sometime ago.
> >>
> >> David
> >> KW4DH
> >>
> >> On 5/1/2012 4:13 PM, Manfred Mornhinweg wrote:
> >> >> Some years ago, I discovered a 'cure' for the problems brought
> >> >> to
> my
> >> >> station by
> >> >> cheapie connectors. They ALL went into the S***can!
> >> > Much the same here. And it's a real problem, because every
> connector I
> >> > can buy locally (Chile) is Chinese-made, and while the best of
> >> > them
> are
> >> > satisfactory, most of the rest are junk.
> >> >
> >> > But not always is the problem attributable to a bad connector.
> >> > Very often it's bad installation. I don't know how it's in the
> >> > USA, but around here it's truly surprising how few hams know that
> >> > the holes
> in
> >> > the sides of a PL-259 connector are there to solder the braid!
> People
> >> > will strip the coax, push or thread it into the PL-259, solder
> >> > the center conductor, and leave the braid to contact the shell by
> >> > proximity, telepathy, good luck, or by the never-failing (so they
> >> > think)
> spring
> >> > action of the plastic jacket...
> >> >
> >> > Only the internal conductor is hot with RF, right? So it doesn't
> matter
> >> > if the braid makes no contact, right? That's what they think.
> >> >
> >> > And then there are those who have emancipated from this step.
> >> > They
> will
> >> > push the coax cable into the connector, and then try to somehow
> patch
> >> > those pesky solder holes with some half-melted, pasty solder. The
> braid
> >> > inside stays untouched.
> >> >
> >> > Or those who want to do it right. They push in the cable, then
> >> > heat
> the
> >> > whole connector with a torch, and flow abundant solder into those
> >> > holes.
> >> > This time the braid gets properly soldered to the body. And so
> >> > does the center conductor. To the body, I mean.
> >> >
> >> > I have held workshops at three different radio clubs, to try
> teaching
> >> > people the correct installation of a PL-256 connector, and I have
> found
> >> > that many hams just plainly lack the ability to understand why it
> >> > should be that way, or the discipline to actually do all
> >> > necessary steps, specially tinning the connector body on the
> >> > inside before pushing
> the
> >> > cable in, and tinning the braid...
> >> >
> >> > I have seen PL-259 connectors in which the braid had been
> unbraided,
> >> > twisted into two bundles like Salvador Dali's mustache, pulled
> through
> >> > the solder holes, and the two ends knotted together outside the
> >> > connector's body! A great, safe contact, sure! ;-)
> >> >
> >> > Oops, I'm in ironic mode today. Forgive me... Must be because
> >> > it's
> 1st
> >> > of may...
> >> >
> >> > Manfred
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > ========================
> >> > Visit my hobby homepage!
> >> > http://ludens.cl
> >> > ========================
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > Amps mailing list
> >> > Amps@contesting.com
> >> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
> >> >
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Amps mailing list
> >> Amps@contesting.com
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> > _______________________________________________
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> > Amps@contesting.com
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> >
> >
> > -----
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> >
>
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