Thanks for the info.

There are really only two primary mechanisms that can cause connector
loss, and they're the same as the ones causing transmission line loss --
conductor resistance and dielectric loss. The conductor loss won't be
much more than for the same length of coax, since the conductor diameter
is as large as for coax. Admittedly, nickel plating can be quite
resistive, but the distance is very short. I've seen some UHF
(PL-259/SO-239) connectors with phenolic insulation, which isn't the
greatest, but again, it's there only for a very short distance, so the
overall loss won't be much at all. As a connector insulation, Teflon is
virtually lossless up through UHF.

A well-designed connector is just a piece of transmission line, with
about the same loss characteristics. As for "impedance bumps", poorly
designed connectors like UHF types will show a small impedance change
over their length. Again, though, the distance is so short that the
overall effect on SWR is negligible until you get very high in frequency
-- the effect is just the same as a small shunt C or series L -- of good
quality -- inserted at that point. And this has no effect on connector
loss. I remember being surprised at finding UHF connectors used in a
commercial 450 MHz radio I had. But whatever impedance change they
presented was simply compensated for by the transmitter output and
receiver input networks. Likewise, if they're at the antenna, a slight
adjustment of the antenna matching system (e.g., gamma match) or antenna
length will compensate. Good quality connectors like BNC, TNC, N, and so
forth have a very nearly constant 50 ohm impedance through them if
properly assembled. This isn't generally true of right angle connectors
and adapters, but for most amateur purposes the impedance change they
present isn't of any consequence, either.

I recall seeing a disassembled cheap UHF adapter -- female-female as I
recall -- which contained a steel spring as the center conductor. Now,
something like that might have measurable loss even at HF. So I can't
say that all adapters, even the very junkiest ones, have negligible
loss. But you don't need to be concerned about the loss of adapters
having even a modicum of quality. And it's unlikely you'll be able to
measure the loss of any connector through VHF at least, and above that
only with sensitive equipment.

Finally, let me caution against interpreting "insertion loss" or
"mismatch loss", often specified for connectors and adapters, as
representing actual dissipative loss, like coax loss. It doesn't -- it's
something else. People sometimes read or hear that a connector has a
"mismatch loss" of such-and-such, then repeat that number as being the
dissipative loss you'd get by putting the connector into a system.
That's a mistake. I've posted quite a bit about this from time to time
in the past, so anyone who's interested should be able to find out more
by doing a Google search on this newsgroup for "mismatch loss".

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

Howard wrote:
Roy,
I don't have any "real" reference to the connector loss, just
folklore. I took the cable loss from the same source as you - if
there is error chalk it up to sloppy reading of the graph 8-} I do
see that we both quoted the same 1 dB of cable loss, that tells me I'm
on track. I did re-read my 'guesstimate' of power loss in the cable
and it does look like my math is off a bit.

I agree with what you say regarding the loss not being enough to
notice and thanks for steering me straight on the connector loss.
Personally, I've never tried to measure connector loss nor have I gone
obsessive-compulsive about changing everything to BNC or N connetors,
I just don't see any return on the effort for 2 meters. I use
PL-259's with the exception of antenna's that have N connectors; have
never fretted the "folklore" impedance bump issue either - just
concentrate on making a solid connection and not melting the
dielectric when soldering the braid to the shell, then follow with
good weatherproofing.

Howard
On Thu, 16 Oct 2003 23:19:57 -0700, Roy Lewallen
wrote:


What kind of connector has 0.5 dB loss at 2 meters? And what's the loss
mechanism? Is there some kind of connector out there filled with carbon
or something? Who made the measurements and how?

The ARRL Antenna Book shows RG-58/U and RG-58B/U (plain copper center
conductor) as having just under 6 dB/100' attenuation at 2 meters, and
RG-58A/U and RG-58C/U (tinned copper) as about 6.5 dB/100'. I checked a
100' piece of RG-58C/U in my junk box and found it to be 5.6 dB/100' at
146 MHz. So I'd expect 20 feet or so to have just over 1 dB of
attenuation, almost certainly not enough to notice except perhaps just
barely, if you were right at the noise level. Certainly it wouldn't be
noticeably improved by using some other kind of cable.

Oh, and that measurement was made with BNC connectors on both ends. The
loss of those connectors shouldn't be measurable except with extremely
sensitive equipment.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

Howard wrote:

How do you figure a 3 dB loss? A mobile installation 'typically' uses
RG-58 which at 2 meters has about 4.5 dB loss per 100 feet and most
mobile antenna's come with 15 - 20 feet of cable. As I see it, that's
about 1 dB loss (or thereabouts) for the cable and I've seen connector
loss figures hover around 0.5 dB. At a 1.5 dB loss roughly 1/4 of the
signal is not unreasonable which would put it at the 40 watts you
mention. I don't [totally] aruge your conclusion - just your 3 dB
assertion.

Am I missing something?
Howard