Plumbing techniques on VHF
 

I was recently commissioning a 2M vertical antenna that
had an in-built SO239. However, the thread on the SO239
was shorter than that of a PL259 to the extent that even when
screwed fully home, the cable was not locked (Usually by
those triangular pips on the end of the plug locating into
the v-grooves on the SO239) and could
swivel around with a correspondingly poor contact
for the braid/outer.

The solution was inspired by the new bathroom which
we installed recently, in particular, the use of (Yorkshire?)
compression fittings with their olives to join lengths
of copper pipe.

The method is to completely unscrew the PL259's nut off
the plug, and to wrap some braid off a piece of scrap coax
around the cable end of the plug. When the nut is now
tightened down, the braid is compressed and acts to lock
down the PL259 by reducing the length of screw thread that
is available to mate with the SO239

"Airy R. Bean" wrote in message
...
I was recently commissioning a 2M vertical antenna that
had an in-built SO239. However, the thread on the SO239
was shorter than that of a PL259 to the extent that even when
screwed fully home, the cable was not locked (Usually by
those triangular pips on the end of the plug locating into
the v-grooves on the SO239) and could
swivel around with a correspondingly poor contact
for the braid/outer.

The solution was inspired by the new bathroom which
we installed recently, in particular, the use of (Yorkshire?)

no


compression fittings with their olives to join lengths
of copper pipe.

The method is to completely unscrew the PL259's nut off
the plug, and to wrap some braid off a piece of scrap coax
around the cable end of the plug. When the nut is now
tightened down, the braid is compressed and acts to lock
down the PL259 by reducing the length of screw thread that
is available to mate with the SO239

"Airy R. Bean" wrote in message
...
I was recently commissioning a 2M vertical antenna that
had an in-built SO239. However, the thread on the SO239
was shorter than that of a PL259 to the extent that even when
screwed fully home, the cable was not locked (Usually by
those triangular pips on the end of the plug locating into
the v-grooves on the SO239) and could
swivel around with a correspondingly poor contact
for the braid/outer.

The solution was inspired by the new bathroom which
we installed recently, in particular, the use of (Yorkshire?)
compression fittings with their olives to join lengths
of copper pipe.

The method is to completely unscrew the PL259's nut off
the plug, and to wrap some braid off a piece of scrap coax
around the cable end of the plug. When the nut is now
tightened down, the braid is compressed and acts to lock
down the PL259 by reducing the length of screw thread that
is available to mate with the SO239


This is the sort of bodge job you used in your software. Wasn't it.

Ask Westinghouse.

"Airy R. Bean" wrote in message
...
I was recently commissioning a 2M vertical antenna that
had an in-built SO239. However, the thread on the SO239
was shorter than that of a PL259 to the extent that even when
screwed fully home, the cable was not locked (Usually by
those triangular pips on the end of the plug locating into
the v-grooves on the SO239) and could
swivel around with a correspondingly poor contact
for the braid/outer.

Even a Cber would know that your problem is caused by
trying to mate up 2 incompatible threads!!!

It is a common problem on white stick antennas, if you
purchase a compatible plug then everything will screw up
correctly.!!!!!

Jeff

"Jeff" wrote in message
...
"Airy R. Bean" wrote in message
...
I was recently commissioning a 2M vertical antenna that
had an in-built SO239. However, the thread on the SO239
was shorter than that of a PL259 to the extent that even when
screwed fully home, the cable was not locked (Usually by
those triangular pips on the end of the plug locating into
the v-grooves on the SO239) and could
swivel around with a correspondingly poor contact
for the braid/outer.

Even a Cber would know that your problem is caused by
trying to mate up 2 incompatible threads!!!

It is a common problem on white stick antennas, if you
purchase a compatible plug then everything will screw up
correctly.!!!!!

You can't tell Gareth anything about screwing things up. He is an expert in
it.

Ask Westinghouse.

Sorry, don't know what you mean - the 239/259
is not a standard for some antennae? Is that what you
are trying to say?

"Jeff" wrote in message
...
"Airy R. Bean" wrote in message
...
I was recently commissioning a 2M vertical antenna that
had an in-built SO239. However, the thread on the SO239
was shorter than that of a PL259 to the extent that even when
screwed fully home, the cable was not locked (Usually by
those triangular pips on the end of the plug locating into
the v-grooves on the SO239) and could
swivel around with a correspondingly poor contact
for the braid/outer.

Even a Cber would know that your problem is caused by
trying to mate up 2 incompatible threads!!!

It is a common problem on white stick antennas, if you
purchase a compatible plug then everything will screw up
correctly.!!!!!

Jeff

"Airy R. Bean" wrote in message
...
Sorry, don't know what you mean - the 239/259
is not a standard for some antennae? Is that what you
are trying to say?

No,

you will find that there are 2 different threads available,
quite a few 'white stick' antennas use a metric thread.
A non-metric thread plug will screw on most of the way
and then jam, leaving the centre of the plug free to
rotate. Solution buy a plug with the correct thread.

Jeff

A metric PL259? Well, there's a thing!

Do the sellers of Ham Antennae stress that their
SO239 connectors need a special plug?

It may be that what you say is true, but I am sceptical.

"Jeff" wrote in message
...
"Airy R. Bean" wrote in message
...
Sorry, don't know what you mean - the 239/259
is not a standard for some antennae? Is that what you
are trying to say?
you will find that there are 2 different threads available,
quite a few 'white stick' antennas use a metric thread.
A non-metric thread plug will screw on most of the way
and then jam, leaving the centre of the plug free to
rotate. Solution buy a plug with the correct thread.

"Airy R. Bean" wrote in message
...
A metric PL259? Well, there's a thing!

Do the sellers of Ham Antennae stress that their
SO239 connectors need a special plug?

It may be that what you say is true, but I am sceptical.


How long are do you claim to have been interested in amateur radio?

Gawd, have you ever done anything.

"Airy R. Bean" wrote in message
...
A metric PL259? Well, there's a thing!

Do the sellers of Ham Antennae stress that their
SO239 connectors need a special plug?

It may be that what you say is true, but I am sceptical.


Nevada certainly used to, I haven't bought one from them
for several years though.

Jeff