"Brad" wrote in message
...

"Dee Flint" wrote in message
...
I've often thought that a person (unless handicapped) should demonstrate
putting a simple PL-256 on coax.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Perhaps they could demonstrate a PL259 connector instead?

Brad VK2QQ

OOPS! Sometimes my typing just goes to pot.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"Brad" wrote in message
...

"robert casey" wrote in message
hlink.net...



Perhaps they could demonstrate a PL259 connector instead?

Extra credit if they can do it without melting the
dielectric insulation of the coax. More points if they
can get the solder to actually flow onto the connector body
where the shield solder holes are located (helps if you
use a small file to remove the plating first).
And more points if they remember to put the shell on the
cable in the correct direction before doing any soldering ;-)

Or they could demonstrate extra skills and just use crimp on PL259's like
I do. These are much easier and more reliable. They are more expensive but
their construction is superior.

My original comment was directed at Dee offering points for something
called a "PL256".

Brad

Yup, some days I can't type. The crimp on would also be an option since I
did (purposely) phrase it as install it. In either case, the pass/fail
criteria would be continuity with no shorts.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"Brad" wrote in message
...

"Michael A. Terrell" wrote in message
...
robert casey wrote:


I used to tin the braid then use a small tubing cutter to trim the
shield to the right length. I used a drill to remove the plating from
the holes and file all the chrome off between the holes. I tinned the
center conductor and put a drop of liquid RMA flux on the center
conductor and the braid before I put the coax into the plug, then
soldered all four holes and the center pin. I didn't melt the
dielectric, and you couldn't pull the coax out of the plug.

That's a hell of a lot of messing about and time consuming too. A crimp on
PL259 for RG58 series or RG213 series cables would take about 2 minutes to
install, no soldering, no chance of heat damage, no shorts and they can be
fitted in the field.

Brad.

As with anything else, there are both advantages and disadvantages. The
crimp on ones seem to be more prone to having a shorter life. Why, I don't
know.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"Brad" wrote in message
...

"Da udder one ya dont know" wrote in
message oups.com...

Solderless connectors for RF applications? A quick fix for sure but not
a lasting one! The only crimped connector I've ever seen work is the
cable TV connectors and the center conductor us used directly.

Crimp on RF connectors have been used for decades, BNC, TNC and N
connectors, good to 1.5GHz, UHF connectors to 500MHz. Used in most avionic
and military applications. (many of the connectors have a mil p/n) The
crimp forms a cold weld which is better than solder and more reliable
considering that the crimp tools are calibrated.

http://www.radiall.com/vdocportal/po...egoryId=382831

Download the BNC catalog, go to Page 12 for a sample of BNC crimp on
connectors. The UHF's are similar.

Brad.

Unfortunately too many of the installations are sub par. When I have
purchased antennas that came with crimp on connectors, such as many mobile
antennas, I've had to replace the connector in under a year.


Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"Userbeam Remailer" wrote in message
...
In article
"Dee Flint" wrote:


"cl" wrote in message

o.verio.net...
"bb" wrote in message
oups.com...


[snip]


I wonder how VE Dee would accomodate the disabled in the
Tower Climbing
pass/fail skill exam?


Tower climbing is not a basic skill so there is no need to
test for it. One
can put up a wide variety of antennas without a tower.

True!

On the other hand,
I've often thought that a person (unless handicapped) should
demonstrate
putting a simple PL-256 on coax.

Oh, is that a new kind of connector? I like using PL-259's on
coax myself! :)


Ok, I accept the 50 lashes with a wet noodle.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Dee Flint wrote:

"Brad" wrote in message
...

"Michael A. Terrell" wrote in message
...
robert casey wrote:


I used to tin the braid then use a small tubing cutter to trim the
shield to the right length. I used a drill to remove the plating from
the holes and file all the chrome off between the holes. I tinned the
center conductor and put a drop of liquid RMA flux on the center
conductor and the braid before I put the coax into the plug, then
soldered all four holes and the center pin. I didn't melt the
dielectric, and you couldn't pull the coax out of the plug.

That's a hell of a lot of messing about and time consuming too. A crimp on
PL259 for RG58 series or RG213 series cables would take about 2 minutes to
install, no soldering, no chance of heat damage, no shorts and they can be
fitted in the field.

Brad.

As with anything else, there are both advantages and disadvantages. The
crimp on ones seem to be more prone to having a shorter life. Why, I don't
know.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Dee, I have worked in broadcast and manufacturing. 95% of the failed
RF connectors I've seen were crimped. I've never had a soldered PL259
come off after I started using the described method. The assemblers at
Microdyne were required to put completed crimped cables into a fixture
that applied the manufacturer's specified tension on each crimped
connector. Most of the SMA we used were still soldered, either on flex
or semi-rigid cable. In 30 years I have only seen a few cracked solder
joints on semirigid, and that was on N" connectors in Collins 4 GHz
Satellite TV receivers. Over half of the units I repaired for United
Video Cablevision had bad solder work on the RF input connectors.

I was at a hamfest a few years ago and bought a box full of PL259
connectors that were cut off bad cables. I used needle nose to pull the
insulation out and held the shell over a propane torch a few seconds and
dropped it on the bench to remove the loose stands and old solder.
After they had cooled I did the center pins that way. No damage to any
of them and all were nicely tinned for re-use.
--
Former professional electron wrangler.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

Brad wrote:

That's a hell of a lot of messing about and time consuming too. A crimp on
PL259 for RG58 series or RG213 series cables would take about 2 minutes to
install, no soldering, no chance of heat damage, no shorts and they can be
fitted in the field.


I didn't make the cables one at a time. I would make dozens and it
went very fast because I did it like a small assembly line. Not only
that but people paid about $3 per connector I installed than anyone else
in the area wanted. I could make about a dozen cables in an hour, back
when I was in the RF business. I didn't make, or use RG58 cables. Only
RG-8 or 213. I have to find the right connectors for the teflon coax I
have in the shop. I think its two spools of RG-179 and a spool of
RG-400

Who says you can't get a shorted cable with crimp connectors? I've
seen plenty of shorted cables with crimped connectors.


--
Former professional electron wrangler.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

K=D8HB wrote:
Uh oh...no "73"...And it was looking so promising
for a few moments there...

Steve, K4YZ

Nope, no "73". That went away when you saw fit to personalize the
conversation
with disparaging ad hominem remarks unrelated to the topic, and to
bring
uninvolved family members into the conversation.

Hans, K0HB

He always wants to have conversations with other people's wifes and
children.

K4YZ wrote:
Mike Coslo wrote:
bb wrote:

Mike Coslo wrote:

I've heard of some pretty wild times long before things were
"dumbed

down"!

- Mike KB3EIA -


Mike, I've been meaning to ask. Are you still sore at me for not
giving your grief about the balloon project?

HEH! Now you confused me Brian. But seriously, that you *didn't*
give
me grief was duly noted!

I've been stressing over
Steve's label of "antagonist" for not giving you grief for some
time
now. I'm such a terrible person. Hi!

Ohh, you know how newsgroups are.....

I know how they are, Mike!

You sure know how to destroy one.

They're populated by people who don't have the intestinal
fortitude to sign their names to their posts and they make up
allegations to try and hide behind.

And people who sign their names to every made up, false allegation.

Ask Brain where the Techs went. He insists that they were
"chased
away", yet refuses to say who chased them away or where they went.
I've asked him repeatedly after he unequivocally stated they had.

Steve, it's old news. You're welcome to research it in the archives
unless you're just too lazy and/or inept.

Ask Brain where the "unlicensed devices" are. He insists that
"unlicensed devices" play a "major roll" in emergency communications.
He WON'T provide any evidence of it, but he insists it's true.

It's true.

Brain has also recently asserted that ARES is "overblown", and
that it won't respond to "real disasters" due to the age of it's
membership. I've posted several news releases, all of them from
within
the last 2 weeks, and Brain won't explain how it is ARES is
"overblown"
when there's evidence to the contrary.

You failed as shift writer. You failed miserably, and you proved my
point.

Those are just the recents ones...The Somalia horse is pretty
dead...He could never make that horse trot no matter how colorful a
jockey he put on it.

I'd like to see the documentation that you were the IMD on Okinawa.

His "I've worked DXCC several times over" stories are cute,
too...

Please retell those stories, Steve.

Now his most current diversion is adding up non-existant "lies".
It just makes him look more feeble, but hey, it keeps him warm.

They are well documented, and you just issued lie #27.

Keeps me warm too....from laughing so hard!

Oh, yeh, the "bwhahaha" laugh that you claimed to not make.

bb wrote:
K=D8HB wrote:
Uh oh...no "73"...And it was looking so promising
for a few moments there...

Steve, K4YZ

Nope, no "73". That went away when you saw fit to personalize the
conversation
with disparaging ad hominem remarks unrelated to the topic, and to
bring
uninvolved family members into the conversation.

Hans, K0HB

He always wants to have conversations with other people's wifes and
children.

No "conversation", Brian...Just make them aware of your conduct.

Steve, K4YZ