Hi Jim. Mostly, N connectors, BNC's, TNC's, SC and 7-16's. And for the big stuff, EIA flange connectors. Plus some other weird stuff. (3 lug BNC's and such, to prevent the "wrong connection".) The odd appearance of the C connector on some US kit too. Some "Spinner" 'BN' series connectors to, also often seen in the European Broadcast industry and some military.
A lot of US equipment also still use the various unique to the US connectors, often seen on big Bird loads etc. Not so common over hear. That based on what I've seen on kit "being tested" at customers sites over the last 28 years. The only UHF series connector commercially used, that I've personally seen in that time frame is on a very old design of screened room weld crack detector, and it's a nightmare to use as it's always working loose. To Charlie. The threads have no part to play in the RF path on a UHF connector, it's all down to the two outer mating faces being pressed together. The older (so called) MIL spec types, that had all the castelations at that point were *MUCH* better because of it, as they sort of interlocked and made a much better contact due to the metal to metal force multiplication that results.. They also tended not to rotate relative to each other so the retaining ring stayed tight. Basic mechanical design feature, missing on the modern versions, where the two parts can rotate, even when the ring is (allegedly) tight. The modern stuff with the 4 slots on the socket, and two bumps on the plug, are just utter crap. (Built down to a cost.) I'm amazed that no maker has innovated gone back to the original design, and fitted a crinkle spring washer behind the locking ring, so that contact pressure can be maintained, and also helping to keep the threads from working loose when subject to vibration... But even then, they'd still only be of any practical use below 100MHz due to the impedance mismatch issue. (Originally for use below 30MHz.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UHF_connector Stick with BNC's, N's and if you have too, 7-16's. They are all easy to fit to cable with practice, no special tools needed unless you insist on the crimp types, and then you *MUST* have the correct tooling for that particular make of connector. The pressure gland fitting types, are also easy to remove, clean up and re-fit if a cable becomes damaged. All it takes is some practice. Buy some surplus ex-military patch leads, and practice removing and refitting them. After a few of each it becomes very easy. 73. Dave G0WBX. On 19/09/18 12:15, Jim Miller wrote: > Hi Dave > > What does NATO use in place of pl259? > > Thanks! > > Jim ab3cv > > On Sep 19, 2018, at 4:16 AM, Dave B via Elecraft <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Wunder, I'll second you on that! > > Of all the 1000's of RF connectors I've assembled and used over the > years for my own hobby and at work. The venerable "UHF" series have > always proved to be the nastiest most unreliable types ever. Period. > > All my own personal radio kit, either get's them replaced (Sadly, not > always an easy job) with a N or BNC (in one case, a TNC.) Or a BNC (or > N) adapter is securely fitted as a permanent fixture (including LocTite > on the threads, in mobile/portable situations!) > > I also use BNC's at HF, as we do at work. They can happily carry well > over 150W at up to 220MHz even in the presence of some very bad VSWR's > (6:1 or higher.) Assemble them correctly and look after them > physically, and they will last a lifetime. > > The UHF series are just plain unreliable. It is no surprise that the > military (NATO) don't use them any more. > > 73. > > Dave G0WBX (also G8KBV) > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> On 18/09/18 19:45, [email protected] wrote: >> Message: 1 >> Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2018 16:45:10 -0700 >> From: Walter Underwood <[email protected]> >> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] loss of RX sensitivity >> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 >> >> The next time someone challenges me on why I only use BNC and Type N >> connectors, I?m going to send them this entire discussion. >> >> wunder >> K6WRU >> Walter Underwood >> CM87wj >> http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog) -- Created on and sent from a Unix like PC running and using free and open source software. :: ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [email protected]
