RolandSWL
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« on: February 19, 2013, 10:26:37 AM » |
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Hi All,
I recently purchased some PL-259 male,male connectors for an antenna project. When I tried to make them finger tight, they fell apart. It seems that they are held together by a weak brass, split ring. Junk!
Anyone have a source for quality male/male PL-259 connectors?
TIA, Roland..........
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KA0HCP
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« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2013, 11:00:09 AM » |
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The 'gold standard' of connectors is Amphenol silver plated, with teflon insulator
Any of the reputable ham dealers will ensure that you get quality connectors, just avoid the cheapest ones. You should be able to get good quality for around $2 each, or less.
Ham vendors:
HRO
Amateur Electronic Supply
Radio Works
JEFFA Tech (friend of mine here in Md.)
and numerous others
Parts houses:
Mouser
Digikey
Allied Electronics
Newark
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New callsign KA0HCP, ex-KB4QAA. Relocated to Kansas in April 2019.
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RolandSWL
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« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2013, 11:51:07 AM » |
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Thanks for the leads.
The defective/junk connectors were purchased from a "reputable ham dealer" from whom I had made purchases in the past. These were no-name connectors. For all intents they looked robust but proved otherwise.
I will scope out the Amphenols.
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wa3dsp
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« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2013, 12:22:21 PM » |
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I know its a pain to return such a small part but the reputable ham dealer should at least know that what they sold you was junk. They don't stay reputable selling stuff like that and if they were smart they would do something about it.
I have the luxury of having a lifetime supply of BNC and N connectors so I don't use UHF's unless I absolutely have to. I always hated the idea of soldering through those holes and hoping everything was alright inside and they are not waterproof. I have the same trepidation putting on a UHF connector as others might have putting on an N connector.
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W2VW
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« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2013, 01:09:28 PM » |
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Could have been a bad batch.
Some well known names have that problem once in a while.
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RolandSWL
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« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2013, 01:23:52 PM » |
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Sorry. I may not have been clear. It's a double male PL-259 adapter for joining two SO-239's.
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Pete, WA2CWA
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« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2013, 02:14:09 PM » |
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Go here: http://www.therfc.com/uhf.htmThe import version $1.75 The Amphenol version $10.71 Definitely a big difference in quality and longevity. |
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Pete, WA2CWA - "A Cluttered Desk is a Sign of Genius"
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KA0HCP
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« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2013, 02:34:37 PM » |
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To be honest that is an unusual adapter. I've never seen one.
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New callsign KA0HCP, ex-KB4QAA. Relocated to Kansas in April 2019.
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Pete, WA2CWA
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« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2013, 03:20:27 PM » |
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To be honest that is an unusual adapter. I've never seen one.
I use them to hang my Dow Key relays off the transmitters. |
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Pete, WA2CWA - "A Cluttered Desk is a Sign of Genius"
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Steve - K4HX
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« Reply #9 on: February 19, 2013, 09:35:31 PM » |
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I haven't checked lately but Pasternack and Radio Works had these in the past.
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flintstone mop
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« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2013, 10:39:02 AM » |
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I really try to stay away from adaptors...Usually cause a lot of problems
Fred
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Fred KC4MOP
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KM1H
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« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2013, 10:42:48 AM » |
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To be honest that is an unusual adapter. I've never seen one. Far from unusual around here in UHF, BNC and N. |
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RolandSWL
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« Reply #12 on: February 26, 2013, 07:58:09 AM » |
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I orderd 3 Amphenol 83-877 connectors from The R.F. Connection. They are all beef. I would have a hard time killing one of these. Thanks Pete!
Roland.............
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W1RKW
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« Reply #13 on: February 26, 2013, 05:37:05 PM » |
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I've dealt with my share of "inexpensive" connectors whether being PL-259s or whatever. You get what you pay for in most cases. I like to be able to desolder connectors if need be and the state of the art seems to Amphenol. They can take abuse.
I often wonder whether the cheapos meet design impedance characteristics.
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Bob
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kb3rdt
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« Reply #14 on: February 27, 2013, 03:02:20 AM » |
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Pete, WA2CWA
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« Reply #15 on: February 27, 2013, 03:18:42 AM » |
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Pete, WA2CWA - "A Cluttered Desk is a Sign of Genius"
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kb3ouk
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« Reply #16 on: February 27, 2013, 08:42:09 AM » |
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I often wonder whether the cheapos meet design impedance characteristics.
I've always been under the impression taht one of the disadvantages with a PL-259/SO-239 coneector is they don't have a characteristic impedance, which is why they are fine for HF but are horrible for UHF. |
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Clarke's Second Law: The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is by venturing a little past them into the impossible
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wa3dsp
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« Reply #17 on: February 27, 2013, 10:41:41 AM » |
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