In a message dated 10/20/01 8:10:48 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
qcs0041@lexcominc.net writes:<<
Eddy,
I have found the silver and teflon PL-259' s sold by Radio Works in
Portsmouth,
VA
are good easily-soldered connectors like Amphenol used to make years ago. Any
other brand that I 've bought in recent years has just been trash.
GL, 73.
Kent -K4MK
Eddy Avila wrote:
> Hi all,
> When I was a young ham in the 60's I never ever had any problems
assembling
> PL259 connectors, particularly when it came to soldering them to the coax.
> I'm sure I never used anything hotter than a 100-watt gun!! I'd simply heat
> up the connector then apply some solder and voila! It was that easy.....
>
> But now, no matter what I buy, cheap or expensive silver-tinted PL259 and
> using a 250watt gun I'm finding it very difficult to get solder to "stick"
> to these crap connectors....getting really frustrated trying to get solder
> to adhere to PL259's now!!!
>
> Can someone recommend (without hesitation) a source of good-quality
> connectors that can take solder like they used to?
> thanks much!
> 73....../ed
Plating that doesn't really accept solder is a possibility. A 250W Iron is a
more likely source of the problem. I've used nothing hotter than a 47W iron
with a big tip it give you a little more time. Drill the 4 holes with the
next larger drill and bevel the hole. I had a Coax Article in the last
Century in CQ showing a picture of the enlarged beveled holes. Soldering
connectors on Pollyfoam is tricky as at a certain heat level just after the
solder flows and attaches (sometimes before) the foam will bubble out ruining
the connection--cut it off and start over. With solid and foam coax I have
wrapped a #30 or smaller bare wire around the shield firmly and tinned it
carefully before inserting in to the connector. After drilling the 4 holes
larger and beveling them, you can tin the beveled part of the hole and let
cool slightly--then insert the shield. It give you a "preheat start" on the
connector. There is always a way to do something a little better. k7gco
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