quote:
Originally posted by sugilbert
quote:
Originally posted by HOGAN
Have you checked all of the electrical connections to the VHF?
The culprit usually is the connector on the end of the coax. Soldering is the best, but difficult to do correctly, and the solderless connectors are terrible.
I strongly disagree the solderless Centerpin PL259 connectors are terrible. If you are not used to frequently soldering tiny wire strands to thick solid metal as in the conventional connectors without melting the insulation or having excess solder block the connection, the solderless connectors are really easy to install with just a pair of pliers for a very reliable connection if done carefully .
No trimming back layers of sheathing and insulation at different lengths. Just cut the coax off square & install the few Centerpin pieces on the coax in order.
*For best protection, apply a little silicone dielectric grease on the cut end and jacket 1st where it will be under the connector.
* The most important simple trick is to use the pliers to gently squeeze down the "teeth"pairs just a very little at a time and move on to the next pair and so on until each pair has been lightly squeezed at least a couple times and the arm connected to each tooth is only laying tightly flat on the jacket, not pressed way in .That arm is designed to limit depth of the tooth penetration.
*NOTE: If you squeeze the 1st pair too hard right off they will crowd out the next pairs & the rest will never go down flat enough to allow the connector to screw together inside the barrel, plus that pair of teeth could go in beyond the braid shield/ground layer of wire and short to the center conductor, ...so don't do that.
The teeth should only go deep enough to sit in the braided shield layer
Just put it all together and if it is in an area exposed to spray , wrap the whole connector with self-amalgamating tape.
I've used them on several radios and have maintained an approx 1.2:1 to < 1.5:1 VSWR for about 8 yrs, and 2 of the connections are in an area of direct saltwater spray on my tower stand .
They are reliable and sooo much faster and easier to add to the coax than the solder type which for most non-professional electronics folks have a greater chance of failed installation.
Anyone can quickly install these connectors for reliable use the 1st time if they follow the simple tips above.
I was a disbeliever for a long time too refusing to try them, but got over the misinformation about these clever great gold-plated Centerpin connectors and would only use these now. Just don't put them on already-corroded cable as they can't fix that.
