The new breed of compression type F connectors (T&B Snap-N-Seal) have
surprisingly good return loss up to 3 GHz and Canare advertises 26dB
return loss at 2GHz for their industry standard crimp type, see
http://www.canare.com/index.cfm?obje...9D73F542BECA48.
The female F receptacle usually has two fingers that grab the center
conductor and I think this would be the limiting factor in power
handling capacity.
Bob


Ian White GM3SEK wrote:
Allison wrote:
On 15 May 2006 05:49:18 -0700, wrote:

John Ferrell wrote:
Any one know what power level an F connector can operate?

In real use it's probably better than a phono plug, and for example
Heath radios use phono plugs (HW-101 etc.) up to the 100W power level
up to 30MHz.

If anything the F connector is going to be a better impedance match
into the VHF than a phono plug!

Actual limit (if you want to push to the hairy edge where the connector
is getting damn hot) will depend on frequency, SWR, cabling, etc., that
you don't tell us.

Tim.

I'd take a more direct shot. The connector can likely take whatever
the RG59 or other 75 ohm cable limits it too. Likely the limiting
factor is voltage breakdown. At 75ohms you get to higher voltages
for the same power than you would using a 50ohm system.

If it's one of those F connectors that use the centre conductor of the
cable as the 'pin' of the plug, the limit might be the quality of that
connection.

Is the wire short or long? Clean or corroded? Bent or straight? Does it
have a clean-cut end, or was it mashed flat? Who knows...

I'd bet in the 200W range is not unreasonable.

Probably so... and probably more, if desperate enough. But reliability
is a different matter.

F connectors were designed for the cable industry, to be used by the
millions at the lowest possible cost. It doesn't seem like a good idea
to use such connectors in amateur radio, unless there is some other
compelling reason.