RF Connectors and what they're for: AD#35

Miles, KD2LDV, sent me a question about RF connectors. He wanted help sorting out the alphabet soup. This video, part of the Ask Dave series, examines the most common RF connectors: PL-259, SO-239, BNC, SMA, and Type N. Thank you for watching my videos! My channel, "Ham Radio Answers," is here to help you become an active, on-the-air amateur radio operator! I am unique in that I provide the only set of KZbin training videos that accompany the ARRL license manuals, section for section. I try hard to answer every Ask Dave question individually if I can.
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[@skinny4070]

Your delivery is perfect as always.

[@davenelson413]

Hi ya Dave, love your videos, always new things to learn. Just need to let ya know that N-Type connectors are very common (not rare) these days for all VHF, UHF and up into the microwave bands. This is regardless of power levels ( as you implied) many transceivers and antennas already have N-Type connectors on them for the VHF and up bands. As you alluded to, a big reason is that they are a continuous 50 Ohm ( 75 Ohm also available) through the socket ( this also applied to the SMA, BNC and TNC type connectors) and as you commented avoids impedance bumps that you get with PL259/S)239 sockets. At VHF and up into the microwaves .... even small impedance bumps are not good :) :) Take care ... keep posting your videos 73's Dave VK2TDN

[@gonebamboo4116]

Great ending shot. Love those locos

[@DerHaaB]

In Europe, N. Connectors are fairly common on ALL vhf/uhf equipment. Not only high powered equipment. My Yeasu FT-7900 and Kenwood TM-d710 have an N Socket. (Both 50 watt max) and my Kenwood TS-2000 has, next to the so239's for vhf and hf, an N socket for the uhf antenna.

[@dhunnunahmed513]

Thank you very much

[@m118lr]

Thank you for this Dave, much appreciated. NOT a Ham yet but starting out and becoming more & more familiar with the “ins & outs”. Got the ARRL Tech manual & studying up (as I don’t have an “Elmer” really) trying to glean what I can IF I decide to move forward in the hobby. Great stuff & you’ve answered some questions...although I’ve JUST finished running the RG58 coax cable (mag mount antenna) into the attic for a ‘centralized’ Base radio in the house. Went from PL 259 to a SO 239..to a smaller SMA (?) female on the 50’ run of coax cable. Figuring it out I suppose. I did learn from the vid about the intricacies of the PL 259 to SO 239 “FIT” which I MIGHT have to RE-address, although I had/HAVE NO qualms about how I feel it went together. Late seeing the vid BUT it’s still appreciated!

[@iakovospapadopoulos5113]

Mr. Dave thank you so much for your videos. I have learned so many things. Keep going and thank you again. Many greetings from Greece!

[@davecasler]

+iakovos papadopoulos Thank you!

[@JimHenderson19]

Great content! This really cleared up a lot of questions I had. Thanks!

[@oseyedian]

Nice explanation thank you.

[@bill-2018]

All my h/b equipment has BNC with RG58 cable so I also use the BNC on the front of my FT817ND. Be sure to get 50 Ω and not 75 Ω for amateur gear. Most radio outlets stock only 50 Ω. Some older gear such KW had a choice of 50 Ω or 75 Ω. My KW204 tx had 75. G4GHB

[@wpw4508]

Does anyone remember screw-on TV coax cables? From experience, they worked a lot more reliably than BNC would have. So, +1 for threaded connectors. But I've found screw-on SMA connectors to be -- after 10-20 ttachments, they start to cross-thread. I like reliability and water resistence. For that, type N connectors seem better: they have a gasket, and IP65 rating. There's also the screw-on "TNC" (Threaded Neill-Concelman) connectors, which are the same size as BNC. More reliable than BNC or SMA, lighter than type N or 235, but heavier than SMA,. I'm leaning towards TNC connectors for RG174 and RG58 cables where power is less than 100W or so (and freq band less than 2m for RG174.

[@bill-2018]

TNC are used inside my Racal RA17L.

[@xoox870]

-3bd or 50% power loss at maximum frequency for each connector : UHF (SO, PL) = 60 MHz, FME = 2 GHz, BNC = 4 GHz, N-type = 11 GHz, TNC = 11 GHz, SMA = 18 GHz = = = = > NEVER use at connector at close to its operating bandwidth; the more frequency margin the better ! The 'UHF' are notoriously bad since tolerances from many companies vary widely and the bandwidth is already poor. Best to use an N-connector where ever possible for base stations, except for HTs where SMA is best.

[@BarbarellaCarpenter]

dropping some knowledge there, 73

[@davidwilliams5567]

Nice job explaining all those different connectors. Thank you.

[@brucemurray2520]

Watching from Durango.

[@timbrubaker7550]

I also use N connectors exclusively. With the proper stripper and crimper, you can install one on LMR400 cable in 30 seconds. If you need to extend a cable for any reason, you can barrel them together with no impedance bump.

[@jluke6861]

Thank you.

[@ka0rsnhamm941]

Thank you for this Dave! as always, great break down and explanation!

[@cFyugThCzvAqYaGmxRgfCKTuvHMEjQ]

Hey Dave! I'd just like to say that your sneaky edit of you saying the wrong episode number went almost unnoticed. Almost! Anyway, thanks for the well made and understandable video. Your videos are a great learning resource.

[@davecasler]

;-)

[@docholiday1034]

Thank you..

[@survivalcomms]

Excellent video. I use BNC and N on everything as a preference. I still have a few jumpers w/PL259's for the equipment end when needed but run BNC's or N's downrange from there. When I attach a SMA equipped portable to an external antenna or test equipment I prefer to use a small RG174 jumper ( SMA to BNC etc.) as I have found it fairly easy to break the male SMA in service under mild lateral stress. I know what you mean about "crimper hand" I used to get tendonitis from doing crimp connections all day long. Keep up the good work and thank you for sharing !

[@h.sapienstechnologicus8865]

0:54 The list of connectors 1:24 "UHF" | 4:03 PL-259 crimping | 6:03 Barrel connectors 6:53 BNC | 10:27 SMA | Type-N 13:03

[@glaura1581]

Thanks for a wonderful detailed video, certainly it is helpful for me. somebody wants SMA connectors, he can get elecbee cables in amazon.

[@Scott-K7sce]

yep adapters are great i use them on my ht's' sma to so239 . n to so239 on my beam also making your own cables is handy i had to make a short one from 897d to the 897plus tuner.

[@lowcard1]

Dave thanks so much for these videos. I'm a new ham and these videos are so helpful. I have learned so much from them. Thanks again WM4ZIV.

[@davecasler]

You're welcome! I'm delighted you find them useful, and welcome to ham radio!

[@AppalachianFreedom]

Great tutorial as always!

[@dbuckter8994]

Great work! Most helpful. Very much appreciated.

[@bernasca1965]

Topic suggested for Ask Dave. Thanks Dave. I would like to get the fundamentals how solar activity influence over HF communications, including day/night, yearly, forecast and sources of solar activity information. Kind regards, Augusto. I really appreciate your videos from "ask Dave" Thanks, Augusto.

[@davecasler]

Thanks for the great topic suggestion. I'll add it to the list. For the next couple of months I'm focusing on updating the Amateur Extra training videos, and then will continue the Ask Dave series. 73

[@bobbartholomew1435]

Dave, I am a Steam Locomotive Engineer, and by the way a SSN Nuclear Sub, has a steam engine in it, It Just have the whistle LOL.

[@lbochtler]

Now to crimp a Triax BNC connector! (not for rf use, its for a pico ampermeter)

[@mikeblaszczak5346]

Awesome video and super helpful. I'm glad you're updating the Amateur Extra series for the new tests -- but it's a bit too late for me, as I went from unlicensed to amateur extra this past weekend! The General videos were still very helpful to me and I'll add something to your tip jar (don't you also have Patreon?) this weekend. Meanwhile, what if you made a video about coax cable types in the same style as this connector video? I think it would be super helpful!

[@vw68autobug]

Well, there now is a major Problem... ALL the chinese made PL-259 & SO-239 now coming on the market via ebay etc have a different thread... the original have a thread of 24 threads per inch, and the chinese are 26 threads per inch so that they actually match OK for 4 or 5 threads then they are a mismatch.... I have been having problems since the shops that sold these all close a few years ago. I tighten a PL-259 into a SO-239 where all My cables go inside the house, which I need to undo when there is lightning about... and when My SWR isn't good I go and check these connections and they are always loose, so I retighten them again... and again, that is when I bought a thread gauge, and I found the threads different.... So, I am going to have to change all My PL259s & SO239s on My cables.... VK2LEE LEE

[@adelarsen9776]

Polar Electronics in MLB can help you.

[@leotucker7784]

I am attempting to build my first antenna. a 2 meter 1/4 wave ground plane antenna out of 5 coat hangers. My SO239 connector worked great. However the PL259 adaptor on the coax does not fit into the SO239 connector. Are there different PL259 connector sizes. The male end is too large for the SO239. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[@seltenfotog3115]

I am considering using a new antenna with a bnc connector for its ease of swapping between car and HT use. This will mean I will need an adapter for my HT. Given the choice of two identical antennas and the only difference between the two being that one will be the BNC connector that will require and adapter, will it decrease my radios performance in terms of range (TX and RX) or would you recommend sticking to an antenna with no adapters?

[@DavidMatichuk]

what about FME?

[@AG8000]

👍👍

[@MrBanzoid]

Arggghhhh. BNC connectors! I've only ever soldered one. Never again. 73 de Malcolm M6MYB in the UK.

[@davecasler]

Yeah, I share your opinion of BNC connectors. They are a pain to solder.

[@stevefrost8789]

thanks for the quick reply. people dont seem to know that there hand helds are defened when using coax to an external ariel even with short lengths of lmr 240. if you only have the inner conducter of the cable connected the recieve comes alive, but transmitt is no good. when the braid is in contact with the radio it stiffles it. [ connected properly ] ive just tested a bunch of n and sma connectors and adaptors and there not a problem with hardly a change in reflected power. ive tested 3 baofengs on beams and raised feeds that are performing when connected to a mobile radio that is designed to work this way. the 6.5dbi antenna is only receiving the same strength as the handhelds 8 inch point 2 dbi .antenna.. with the antennas in exactly the same place, it must be some thing in the design of handhelds, pi output or something, maybe youd like to test this and see what you think of it. got me stumped.

[@lyfandeth]

That's just not so. Every auxcom group has regularly used ht's connected by coax to base antennas, or magmounts thrown on vehicles. It sounds like you have a cheap connector making poor contact, or have a bad ground/counterpoise. Physics, not magic.

[@jasongrenier5566]

At 15:22 in your video, you show a chart of connectors. What is the best way to get a copy of that chart?

[@Acroposthion]

10:54 - 'Here is a female SMA connector, the male connector SCREWS OVER IT' heh heh heh ;-)

[@ledschlucker2577]

I also have an Baofeng UV5-RE handheld radio :-) They are good for such a price! 73 de LEDSchlucker

[@marinavandijk5823]

hey david.do you know why there is a loss in receive on a boafeng handheld when connected with a coax to an external antenna. do you know if anyone has tested the sma to n connector plug or sma to so239. theres something like a 12db loss. and this happens on all sorts of antenna so its not an ill tuned antenna. your getting an improvement due to the antenna being in the clear and hieght

[@davecasler]

Cable loss is frequency-dependent, and cables like RG-8X aren't all that good at VHF/UHF, but 12 dB sounds like a pretty hefty loss. Connectors have loss too, but perhaps 1 or at most 2 dB. So something else is wrong. Good luck with your project!

[@adelarsen9776]

I found the train video very nostalgic. History is fascinating and prepares us. Churchill said "The further back in time one looks, the further forward one can see". On the subject of radio, Why is the 259/239 better for frequencies below 50 Mhz ? Could there be a reason perhaps ?

[@davecasler]

Hi Ade. I don't know that they're any better. I think it's a case of a few people started using them, it spread, and now they're so entrenched that they're with us permanently. 73, Dave

[@adelarsen9776]

David Casler Hi Dave, I was told many years ago that the PL259/SO239 was utilised because of greater surface area of the plug and socket internally which gives low noise because of the larger surface area whence HF RF runs on the outside and this matches what those 2 plugs do. Did I explain that well ? To wit, the signal at HF runs on the outside and suits the wider internals of the plug which prevents grounding noise. I didn't write that very well. I was told that it suits HF because of low RF Ground noise - Or something close to that. Ok ? Sometimes I can't write English very well. Does any of that make sense ?

[@davecasler]

I'm sure that there was an important advantage that the first UHF connectors had that caused them to become widespread. I have no idea what it was, though. Wikipedia has an article on "UHF Connectors," which indicates they date back to the 1930s.

[@adelarsen9776]

David Casler What about their suitability at HF ? Does the design lend itself to clean continuous low noise signals at HF ? The bizarre thing for countries outside the USA is that N-type is standard on everything virtually above 50Mhz and HF always uses UHF connections. It should be called a "HF Connector" More research required.

[@davecasler]

The article I read says they're okay to about 100 MHz. I agree: great HF connectors. 73

[@769270865]

My new tv71a use a m type connector... what is that? I can't find any infomation about it

[@davecasler]

Google "m connector." You'll find lots of info.

[@raibeartcahill4295]

Don't be afraid to install BNC connectors. They are really not that hard to do. I have done literally hundreds of them. It just takes a little practice, patience, but most importantly the correct tools.

[@eddy2561]

Dave, who's making good quality RF connectors these days? Many years ago it was always Amphenol, but I'm not sure anymore, especially solder type connectors. Thanks for any recommendation you can offer.....k6sdw

[@davecasler]

Not sure who is the best, but the difference between the best and the good-enough is not large. I get my crimp connectors from DXEngineering and Quicksilver Radio. In the past I've gotten silver-plated solder-type connectors from Ham Radio Outlet.

[@eddy2561]

Thanks Dave!! I'm really enjoying your videos.....ed

[@eddy2561]

Dave, where's a great place to buy coax these days? Thanks........k6sdw

[@davecasler]

Lots of places. Try DXEngineering.com as one possibility.

[@asherael]

My father in law takes great joy in calling barrel connectors like that a "gender bender." Not *ideal* but it's not malicious and pretty funny

[@horizonbrave1533]

Another great video David! Do you have a website recommendation for connectors and cables?

[@davecasler]

Thanks for the kind words! I don't have a specific recommendation because so many companies sell adapters.. Try DXEngineering.com for one. 73

[@horizonbrave1533]

Thanks, btw, your video of the locomotive brought back some fine memories, of when I used to go to Straussburg, PA and see the old fashioned coal burning behemoths that they had on display. Makes me really want to get back into model railroading!

[@DougThomas-KC5VKG]

Just wanted to say thanks for the wonderful videos. Trying to catch up from the beginning as well. Great information, even for some of us who've been around for awhile...hihi I was wondering...have you ever done a video including information on dummy loads? If not, maybe you could do one? What they are, the different types, what they're used for, and how to use them. Just a suggestion. 73 - KC5VKG

[@davecasler]

Hi Doug, thanks for the topic. I'll add it to the list. 73, Dave

[@gonebamboo4116]

Is type F the same as SMA ?

[@davecasler]

No. F-type is used for cable and satellite TV.

[@bobbartholomew1435]

don't have the whistle

[@stevefrost8789]

we are one, steve frost and marina van dijk our different laptops give me these different names when commenting