Stan showed me this approach and it worked out well.
73,
Guy N7ZG
Sent from my Verizon Wireless Smartphone
Stan Stockton <wa5rtg@gmail.com> wrote:
>I have 1/2 inch CATV hardline feeding my verticals on 80m 4 Square. I just
>used about six inches of .625" OD (5/8") x .058" wall tubing slit about 2.5
>inches and four times on either end to fit over the back of the PL-259 and
>outer jacket of hardlline and used some hose clamps. Takes about ten minutes
>start to finish, and cost is minimal. A little Penatrox, some Scotch 88,
>soldered center conductor and I've not had a problem in 8 years.
>
>Stan, K5GO
>
>Sent from my iPad
>
>On Nov 7, 2012, at 10:49 PM, K8RI <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net> wrote:
>
>> On 11/7/2012 10:28 PM, Kelly Taylor wrote:
>>> One thing I considered but never tried was simply using a double-female UHF
>>> adapter, with the centre conductor of the hardline exposed so that when it
>>> fit into one end of the adapter the end of the adapter was up against the
>>> aluminum jacket. Then 1/2-inch ID aluminum tubing slitted at both ends could
>>> be compressed into the jacket and adapter threads with hose clamps.
>>
>> I've never tried it, but "I think" the jacket is both thin enough and soft
>> enough it could be compressed onto the connector with out slitting. You also
>> might be able to turn a couple of brass or hard aluminum alloy to press over
>> the ends to hold the jacket tight onto the fitting. It'd take some
>> experimenting as there probably isn't more than 1 or 2 thousandths between
>> too loose and too tight for the rings.
>>
>> Or skin the threads off so it'd make a tight fit inside.
>>
>>
>>>
>>> There might need to be some work done to the centre conductor of the
>>> hardline to ensure a snug fit and it probably needs some kind of oxide
>>
>> 3/4" hard line fits just fine. The half inch is a bit small for a direct
>> fit. OTOH you might be able to redo the center connector so it would clamp
>> onto a smaller center connector.
>>
>>> inhibitor between the aluminum and the body of the adapter, as well as good
>>> waterproofing.
>>>
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Roger (K8RI)
>>> More elegant might be to choose an ID and wall thickness for the tubing such
>>> that you could swag it to fit over the aluminum jacket AND tap it to accept
>>> the threads on the UHF adapter. Then perhaps you only need one hose clamp.
>>>
>>> 73, kelly
>>> ve4xt
>>>
>>>
>>> On 11/7/12 11:06 PM, "K8RI" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 11/7/2012 9:20 PM, Missouri Guy wrote:
>>>>> FWIW...I needed connectors for the 1/2 aluminum coax
>>>>> quite a few years ago. I didn't think of K8RI's neat idea
>>>>> of the brass fittings back then. What I did was to make
>>>>> an adapter-sleeve with a ~1" length of 1/2" i.d. aluminum tubing.
>>>>> The tubing fit over the standard PL-259 connector
>>>>> and the coax.
>>>>>
>>>>> I found a thick steel washer in the junk box
>>>>> that is about the same size as the CUTTER WHEEL in a copper tubing
>>>>> cutter.
>>>>> I rounded off the edge of the washer and installed it in the
>>>>> cutter. I then used the "cutter" to ROLL two indented rings
>>>>> on each end of the aluminum tubing (4 rings total). That worked, but I
>>>>> found that the aluminum coax was TOO SOFT to "fuse"
>>>>> to the aluminum sleeve. I solved that problem by making
>>>>> some hard plastic inserts that "just fit" inside the coax.
>>>>>
>>>>> I removed the foam inside the coax with a homebrew
>>>>> hollow "drill" made from a chunk of mild steel so the
>>>>> inserts could slide in. It worked well and the connections
>>>>> are still good many years later.
>>>>>
>>>>> Yeah, you may have to use a small lathe to make the inserts, but I know
>>>>> some of you have one in your shop. Those inserts may be needed
>>>>> *IF* you find that the brass compression fittings that Roger used
>>>>> are somewhat loose when compressed over the soft aluminum
>>>>> coax.
>>>>
>>>> I like your idea and I'm trying to picture it a bit better. It has a
>>>> certain elegance to it, but unfortunately takes a bit more work and I've
>>>> noticed a lot of us are not extremely gifted on ambition...at least I'm
>>>> not. OTOH I can't resist a challenge, particularly if it doesn't cost much.
>>>>
>>>> I wonder if a swagging tool couldn't be built to fit the jacket tightly
>>>> onto the PL-259 Barrel? This would give a large area of contact and
>>>> might be strong enough to hold well. The problem with swagging onto the
>>>> barrel is the Aluminum tends to spring back. OTOH swagging to an ID
>>>> slightly undersize with a bit of a bell on the end of the jacket and
>>>> then pressing the PL-259 into the end of the coax jacket might work
>>>> well. Now some one just needs to make the tools to do this well. <:-)).
>>>>
>>>> As in writing computer programs, there are usually far more than one way
>>>> to get the same result. My approach was neat and easy, but you are
>>>> correct in that using the compression fitting the coax is a bit small
>>>> for the fitting. It will tighten down fine, but it takes care to keep
>>>> things straight. Of course if you have a good lathe and a bit of skill,
>>>> you can build the equivalent of of a 7-16 DIN. With some brass rod of
>>>> the proper size you can also build the connectors used on Heliax. Those
>>>> are fairly simple, but it takes about a 4" rod and that brass rod is
>>>> kinda pricey!
>>>>
>>>> 73
>>>>
>>>> Roger (K8RI)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> 73,
>>>>> Charlie, N0TT
>>>>>
>>>>> On Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:01:07 -0500 K8RI <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
>>>>> writes:
>>>>>> On 11/7/2012 5:32 PM, Tom KD8DEG wrote:
>>>>>>> I use standard copper pipe compression fittings if the cable is
>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> aluminum 75 ohm cabel tv line. They work great.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> A couple ways of making adapters.
>>>>>> http://www.rogerhalstead.com/ham_files/conn.htm
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 73
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Roger (K8RI)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Tom KD8DEG
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Maki"
>>>>>> <lists@oakcom.org>
>>>>>>> To: "towertalk" <towertalk@contesting.com>
>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2012 10:00 AM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Fwd: Attach a PL-259 to a 1/2" hardline
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Well, they do make female F connectors for anything up to .750,
>>>>>> but
>>>>>>>> normally it's terminated with pin connectors. The pin connectors
>>>>>>>> though are useful as a starting point to transition to UHF.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -Steve K8LX
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 11/7/2012 9:49 AM, Jim W7RY wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Is this 75 Ohm CATV cable?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> If so, there are NO standard adapters or connectors. The cable
>>>>>> TV
>>>>>>>>> industry does not use "connectors" on this type of coax. The
>>>>>> cable
>>>>>>>>> connects directly to the device through a hole in the side of
>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> device.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> 73
>>>>>>>>> Jim W7RY
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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