David - Those are very good reasons to keep UHF connectors. The impendence mismatch of UHF is probably far less than the other mismatches in the line/antenna. Not to mention that BNC come in 2 flavors - 50 ohm & 75 ohm. A 75 ohm BNC in a 50 ohm system will have a far worse mismatch than the worst UHF (not shorted of course); not to mention that 50 ohm & 75 ohm connectors can be intermittent if mixed and a "booger" to find because the pins are a slightly different diameter. Don't ask how long it took us to discover this and finally correct it in a plant with thousands of BNC connectors installed over a 30 year span (TV broadcasting & OB production/live units).
The UHF connector is easy to make up properly, rugged mechanically, able to be waterproofed and it fits large cables well and has adaptors for smaller diameter cables. BNCs are good for small cables, need a higher level of skill to make-up properly (crimp is recommended) & they should have waterproofing as well unless not in direct contact with liquids. BNCs make the ground first. If in a high static area they would be preferred. BNCs take-up far less panel space than either a UHF or type-N connector. Type N connectors are wonderful - good match to 50 ohms, strong mechanically, available for most RF lines (I've used them from RG 58 to 3" hard copper), inherently waterproof (still waterproof them if outside in the weather & they also make the ground first. They are the most expensive of the 3 major types and like BNC must be ordered for the cable type used. Won't even discuss RCA connectors for RF but they too have a place in some equipment. There is no universal RF connector - yet. Don't believe me just browse a Pasternack or Bracke catalog for all the different RF connectors in use today. 73 George AI4VZ -----Original Message----- From: David Christ I can think of one other reason why UHF has hung around so long. It is cheap, easy to find, and mates nicely with the oh so common RG-8 sized cable that is generally used in HF shacks. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
