The standard readily available PL 259s in VK are marked Japan, the
dielectric is dark brown and the center connector copper or maybe brass...
solders easily though, and they cost around $2.50 each....
I did buy some expensive silver plated connectors with white dielectric -
teflon??- but the centre connector of Belden 9913 is too large for the
centre connector of the PL 259.... can't win them all... Looks like I'll
have to stick to "N" connectors with a brass or copper pin and silver plated
body at $10.00 each.... there does seem to be a very large difference in
price & Quality ??? between the US & VK PL 259s......
73
Lee Noonan VK2LEE
http://www.qsl.net/vk2lee/ photos
http://www.qrz.com/vk2lee/ updated text
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Katz" <stevek@jmr.com>
To: <brewerj@squared.com>
Cc: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 3:53 AM
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Coax cables
> Hi John,
>
> Amphenol has made the 83-1SP with a silver-plated body for more than 40
years and it cost less than one dollar, and is available from their entire
distribution channel, which is massive. In light of that, I cannot imagine
any reason to use #2, #3 or #4.
> I think the #4 types you refer to are foreign made.
> If you buy 25 connectors at a time from Cable XPerts or The RF Connection
(and probably elsewhere), you can get the silver-plated, Teflon-dielectric
PL-259's (American made and very good) for between $.95 and $1.00 each.
> Any time I see anyone using any other type I cringe.
> Although, I can use the Amphenol Astro-Plated ones (very shiny nickel)
just fine, as long as I am "home," and use them in my shop. The Astro Plate
finish takes solder very well if it's elevated to about 500 degrees F and
scrubbed (not filed, not sanded -- scrubbing is done with the soldering
instrument, as solder is applied). Takes only a second or two with a 900W
industrial resistance soldering station, which I have. But I can't take
that to the top of a tower.....
> WB2WIK/6
>> > To: Steve Katz
> > Cc: towertalk@contesting.com
> > Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Coax cables
> >
> > Hi Steve,
> > I guess there's four categories of PL259 bodiesI've run into:
> > 1) Silver plate (no prep required)
> > 2) Plated brass (usually requires no filing/scuffing to achieve a good
joint)
> > 3) Plated brass (Astro Plate?) that does not seem to ever easily wet
well. I use small half round needle file to scuff to brass and area (1/32"
to 1/16" around solder hole) tin the bare base metal, then solder to braid
with Mondo Iron.
> > 4) Plated unknown (pot?) metal. Difficult to wet, and base material is
greyish silver ( not brass).
> > Base material not more solderable than plating. Best application for
these is lining trashcan.
> For outside applications, I always use silver plate connectors. I have a
room containing a large number of medium power vintage stations (17 or 18?)
that are in-line/switchable and are connected via a myriad of patch cables.
For these applications I'll use connector types
> > 2 or 3 if they're on hand. If I find a buy on the silver plates at
'fests, they're my first choice. Even with the huge
> > number of interconnects, I rarely encounter problems tracable to the
connector assembly (but I've gotten pretty good at assembling them too!)
> I've found both my large irons for $1 each. The 200+ watter at a yard
sale, and the American Beauty (about 125 w or so?) at a recent fest. I own
a weller gun too, and have yet to find an application that it's good for.
For other than Chassis/sheet metal/connector soldering, my Metcal with a
good set of tips can cover anything from point to point tube rig repair, to
Manhattan style QRP ass'y.
73
John K5MO
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