Installing a PL-259 (UHF male) on RG-58, RG-59, RG-8X and others (014)

Installing a UHF male (PL-259) on smaller coax like RG-58 and RG-8X using a reducer has never been very satisfying. I was never very impressed with the long term electrical and mechanical reliability ... until now!
Follow these simple instructions to install a a PL-259 on your smaller coax to produce a very reliable connection that will last a LONG time and give you warm fuzzies!
Here is a link to the original document authored by Dan Richardson, K6MHE:
drive.google.c...

[@XBKLYN]

In 46 years of installing these things both professionally and as a ham I've never seen this technique. I just tried it on a run of RG8X and it looks 100% factory with no overheated dielectric or melted outside jacket. Great technique, I'm a convert. Thanks Ralph!

[@eie_for_you]

Well, my friend, I cannot take the credit. I learned it from someone else and loved it so much, I just had to share. I'm glad you like it too! 🙂

[@richardjones7984]

Nice to find instructions for the cable and plug that I have. It's not at all obvious how it is supposed to work. The 21st century and coax plugs are more difficult to use than 50 years ago. That's called progress.

[@eie_for_you]

I am glad that this was helpful. When I discovered this method, it revolutionized my cable terminations. I thought that you would appreciate a little history on this connector ... it was developed in the 1930's back when UHF was defined quite differently. It is actually not a very good choice for what we refer to as UHF today. It and a LOT of coaxial cable made its way into the "general population" after World War II when a huge glut of military surplus hit the market. This is the source of the PL-259 & SO-239 nomenclature associated with it; these are the military designations for the connector. In the R.F. world today it is generally referred to as a UHF connector though, like I said, it isn't suited for what we call UHF today. The name stuck from the 1930s. It is a pretty interesting history, in my mind, and I thought you might appreciate it. 🙂

[@sa5vox465]

FINALLY someone that gives a proper instruction how to deal with this weird reducer version of the PL259!! Thank you Ralph! I have never been a fan of these and have had some ideas "how to" but none that made sense but this solution does. Great video! 👍🙂

[@eie_for_you]

Thanks! I had struggled with those pesky things, too, until I discovered this method. Glad it helps!

[@bobt219]

THANK YOU!!!

[@eie_for_you]

You are welcome! 🙂

[@Joesam701]

Thank you Ralph! This is the BEST video I can find on KZbin for soldering RG58 to a PL259 connector and I now feel confident in doing the project myself! 🙂

[@eie_for_you]

Glad it helped! :-)

[@1oldtexan922]

I learned this back in 1970 as a helper in a radio shop ran by WB5MPX

[@eie_for_you]

The crazy thing is that I only learned this in the last 10 years. I'm glad I did! 🙂

[@1oldtexan922]

@@eie_for_you makes the job much easier.

[@GREGGRCO]

My old boss decades ago would scrap off the plating around the holes, up and down, on the main body. The body would heat up instantly. I love how strong the mechanical connection is to the insert. Great video. Thanks again.

[@eie_for_you]

I've done this to some extent. We want nice, clean solderable metal available to the process. Of course, if we have the more expensive silver plated connectors, a good solder paste cleans things up nicely and keeps the advantage of the silver plating. 🙂

[@johnregan9644]

Thanks for posting this. Just what I was looking for!

[@eie_for_you]

You are very welcome! 🙂

[@BarefootBeekeeper]

Best explanation and demonstration i have seen.

[@eie_for_you]

It sure makes a better connection and WAY easier, too! Glad you liked it.

[@avrumo]

Ralph TNX ! This method is Top Shelf , but you know that ! Appreciate your Efforts and the Share of the Handy Share , 73 AJ W5heh PS now gotta apply this to cheap coax picked up years ago with thin shield w/ foil wrap UGG ! Foiled again, hihi ,lol.

[@eie_for_you]

LOL! You are very welcome! Me? I thoroughly dislike foil shields. There is no way to solder to them. I'm hoping that this is some of the double shielded stuff with the braid shield plus the foil. In that case all you can do is work with the braid and let the foil "go along for the ride" with only a mechanical connection. I've encountered some coax where they used aluminum for the shield wires! No soldering to that stuff either. 😞 73! 🙂

[@TacticalSBR]

Thank you. I need to make several test leads and am now confident that they will be quality-made. -73 KQ4RCR

[@eie_for_you]

You are welcome! I think you will love how they come out! 🙂

[@HarishKottayam]

Thank you so much for this video.. finally I understood all the errors i used to do while prepping rg58 and pl259.. 🙏🙏

[@eie_for_you]

You are very welcome! 🙂

[@josephknudson5097]

Thank you for your help. God bless you.

[@eie_for_you]

You are very welcome! 🙂

[@kc4tlm]

Thanks for the technique I can't wait to try this out later today. 73 DE KC4TLM

[@eie_for_you]

You are very welcome! I find it works very well and gives a nice, mechanically robust installation. 🙂

[@GREGGRCO]

Excellent ! Thanks, Ralph !!

[@eie_for_you]

You are very welcome! 🙂

[@bruceholsted2127]

Good trick with that reducer.

[@eie_for_you]

It sure makes for a much more robust connection! 🙂

[@JamesKing-ku3fv]

Best video out of 10 thanks sir

[@eie_for_you]

Thank you so much! 🙂

[@renju81rtc1]

Very nice usefull.....😁

[@eie_for_you]

Thanks!

[@danieljohnson8437]

Howdy Ralph.

[@eie_for_you]

Howdy! :-)

[@terryboyle]

please provide the make of the connectors you used and if possible a link to purchase them. Thank you VA3TBQ

[@eie_for_you]

Well ... I tend to go with Amphenol RF connectors. Certainly not the least expensive. Here is a list of potential UHF connectors as listed on DigiKey: www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/coaxial-connectors-rf/coaxial-connector-rf-assemblies/437?s=N4IgjCBcoEwBxVAYygMwIYBsDOBTANCAPZQDaIAzHAOwCcALDCALqEAOALlCAMocBOASwB2AcxABfQgDYADIhApIGHAWJkQMKtICs81iE7c%2BQsZMJxZEaIrRY8hEpHL0w1CjB0t2XSLwEi4lLgukw2SioO6s4g9LJ6skwGRn4mgeYgALTWyHaqjhpgYF7MEsFh5ACqABIAYgAESETCwrhIHET82N4gXjZsUGDsA5BgsrJlQA Here is a link to the list of reducing adapters at Digikey: www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/coaxial-connectors-rf/coaxial-connector-rf-accessories/342?s=N4IgjCBcoCwOxVAYygMwIYBsDOBTANCAPZQDaIMYcAzAKzUgC6hADgC5QgDKbATgJYA7AOYgAvoTAAOGIhApIGHAWJkQ1AJy14s5iHaceAkeMJSADBGjy0WPIRKRylGgCZaTVh0jc%2BQ0RIgALRWyLbKDmpgYB6MYvFAA

[@johnbauman4005]

Is "soldering paste" aka flux? Thx! John

[@eie_for_you]

Good evening John! Solder Paste is, yes, flux, but is in paste form. This this www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/chip-quik-inc/RA891/12352196

[@rt83021]

What solder paste did you use?

[@eie_for_you]

I have some really **OLD** stuff I use. Digikey has these that would work: 315-RA691-ND or 315-RA891-ND

[@rt83021]

@@eie_for_you I have some Oatey No.5 here, I read that the only difference between No.5 and N0. 95 flux is the 95 has some solver powder in it. Apparently it works for electronic per a model railroad site.

[@doc145]

No that is flux for plumbing. Never use that on wiring or PCB’s.

[@eie_for_you]

@@doc145 True that ... just looked it up.

[@eie_for_you]

@@rt83021 this is plumbing flux not for electronics circuits. Leaves too much corrosive residue behind.