John Ferrell wrote:
I was being intentionally vague. I was hoping for some experiences or
maybe even documentation. I have never seen it for anything other than
small signal use.

The question arose while experimenting with an RV antenna on a
fiberglass Winnebago. I ordered a 12 foot piece of RG59 with
connectors expecting BNC's. What I received was F connectors. I am
inclined to simply try them.

The initial reasoning was flawed anyway. I am planning a vertical 2
meter dipole, hence the 70 ohm cable. Since I am feeding it with a 50
ohm transceiver output there is going to be a little mismatch wherever
I go. The transceiver does have a maximum output of 50 watts but the
current magmount in a thin sliver of fender does not do well with that
now. RF gets back into the laptop with the GPS software...

I bet that is more than any one wanted to know!
de W8CCW John

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.
John Ferrell W8CCW

Hi Tim,

I've used them here for years in both HF and VHF work .. have had no
problems at 100w Levels even with swr's as High as 10:1.. give it a shot.
73 Dave KC1DI
by the way for all you G5RV users out there.. RG6 75 ohm and
f-connectors work very will and give a bit better of a match to the G5RV
than the standard 50 oh model.

Thanks to all, I will use F's in my experimenting. I will probably
need to fabricate an adapter for a UHF to F for the rig output but
that is not a big deal.

de W8CCW John



I've used them here for years in both HF and VHF work .. have had no
problems at 100w Levels even with swr's as High as 10:1.. give it a shot.
73 Dave KC1DI
by the way for all you G5RV users out there.. RG6 75 ohm and
f-connectors work very will and give a bit better of a match to the G5RV
than the standard 50 oh model.
John Ferrell W8CCW

"John Ferrell" wrote in message
...
Thanks to all, I will use F's in my experimenting. I will probably
need to fabricate an adapter for a UHF to F for the rig output but
that is not a big deal.

F-to-BNC are made -- I have a few -- and everybody has BNC-to-UHF, so there
you are.

John Ferrell wrote:
Thanks to all, I will use F's in my experimenting. I will probably
need to fabricate an adapter for a UHF to F for the rig output but
that is not a big deal.

de W8CCW John


I've used them here for years in both HF and VHF work .. have had no
problems at 100w Levels even with swr's as High as 10:1.. give it a shot.
73 Dave KC1DI
by the way for all you G5RV users out there.. RG6 75 ohm and
f-connectors work very will and give a bit better of a match to the G5RV
than the standard 50 oh model.
John Ferrell W8CCW
F to UHF PL-259 are quite common I bought several at Radio Shack a
couple years ago assume they still carry them.
73 Dave Kc1di

I realize this is a late posting to the question. However, the "F" connector
is designed for small signal levels. The male connector does not usually
make strong bond to the coax's shield. Even the center conductor if the
female "F" connector does not have a strong bond. If you tried to push too
much power through the connector you may create intermod or arching. Like
some of the earlier posting stated there are several factors that will
determine how much power can be applied. i.e. SWR, frequency, duty cycle, or
cw, quality of the connector, workmanship of the connection, etc.


"KC1DI" wrote in message
...
John Ferrell wrote:
Thanks to all, I will use F's in my experimenting. I will probably
need to fabricate an adapter for a UHF to F for the rig output but
that is not a big deal.

de W8CCW John


I've used them here for years in both HF and VHF work .. have had no
problems at 100w Levels even with swr's as High as 10:1.. give it a
shot.
73 Dave KC1DI
by the way for all you G5RV users out there.. RG6 75 ohm and
f-connectors work very will and give a bit better of a match to the
G5RV
than the standard 50 oh model.
John Ferrell W8CCW
F to UHF PL-259 are quite common I bought several at Radio Shack a
couple years ago assume they still carry them.
73 Dave Kc1di