UHF Coax Connectors PL259 and Extra Long SO239

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@piquat1 5 ай бұрын

Was a communications tech for a company that had over 1000 VHF TXr sites across the western half of the US. N are just better for weather. Problem is, hams won't pay for a decent N connector. We installed $60+ connectors, one connector. Top of the line N vs top of the line PL, N every time. The right N, installed professionally, will last for decades.

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Oh.. Lovely! Fancy coax too probably!

@chublez 5 ай бұрын

No experience with N connectors. Plenty of experience with fellow HAMs that won't pony up the coin then complain about the results of their cheaper china junk.

@M7BXR 5 ай бұрын

Used M0MAT radio for a couple of years now, always a good experience, can't fault the connectors. First place I look when I'm buying connectors.

@mewrongwayKOCXF 5 ай бұрын

I always thought the N would be better due to the double shield. JIM sure brought out interesting info! Awesome stuff Callum.

@marek100play 5 ай бұрын

As always, this is an informative and fun video. If I can drop my 5p into the subject, I have always had issues with N-type connectors. They work but not as well as the PLs. I had all sorts of problems, starting with random SWR spikes, losing connections, etc. You ask for the joke about the size, so there you go: longer are better ... of course, the connectors, they said.

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

I think the very good ones (and that's the trick) work very well.. But the quality appears variable.

@DonDegidio 5 ай бұрын

Hi Cal, I recently bought some PL-259's silver plated with gold plated pins and the UG adapter to solder onto some RG400 coax. Wish I had tried the screw the PL-259 barrel onto an SO-239. After all the cables were assembled I discovered the barrel of the PL-259's would only screw onto a few threads then appear to seize. I had to buy a special tap, drill a 4.2mm hole in the center to tap all the PL-259 barrels to get them to screw onto the SO-239's securely. From now on I'm only buying either true Amphenol or Messi & Paoloni PL-259 connectors. Everyone there stay safe. 73 WJ3U

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

OMG Don!

@JimCliffe 5 ай бұрын

I ran into a similar problem with a batch of PL-259's. Two were either faulty, or from a shady supplier. They would screw on nicely, but jam when being removed. I had to use a pair of pliers to get them off even if I'd only finger tightened them! The rest of the batch were OK, only the two bad ones.

@hfvhf987 5 ай бұрын

Also. That sound PL's make takes me back to my childhood and my dads HAMming days 😀

@Ron_pd3ron 5 ай бұрын

Hi Callum, I had already noticed that once, but now with the new pl259 connector it is much better, nice and steady only the screw thread on the mounting part is often a bit too thick. okay, we'll just take the so239 with chassis. we need to go to a so239 vs2. 0😂

@edwardholland36 5 ай бұрын

It is definitely worth looking out for better quality materials. I bought some PL259 from the auction site. Rather like in Jim's video, the insulation was brown, but definitely not phenolic/bakelite as it was susceptible to melting when soldering, resulting in a crooked center pin unless great care was taken. Cheap plastic - Bakelite wont melt, and PTFE should withstand soldering OK. The plugs do work OK at 100W, but not sure I would trust them at higher powers. I got what I paid for, and learned something...

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Good observation.. Agreed, I've had those insulation parts melt before too.

@cubicmaddness2052 5 ай бұрын

The longer thread is useful when applying self almagumating silicone tape. Alows a tighter seal with a less aggressive transition in diameter when wrapping. At the end of the day either will work fine. As for N type. I have also noticed variable results. I prefer the 239/ 259. Connectors. But i operate HF only so there's that.

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Great tip!

@marcoplacidi9975 5 ай бұрын

Matt’s connectors are good quality and always fast delivery

@julianrobertson3303 5 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing as always . The PL259 was invented by RCA , Radio Corporation Of America in the USA in the early 1930's , it was designed for military radio communications personal , the idea of the PL259 is so that a radio communications antenna plug can be applied to a coax cable by using minimum tools ie, a bayonet or a knife or even using teeth . The PL259 ,it's interesting to think that modern radio communications equipment is continuing to use 94 year old technology , it's a bit like the wheel , some things never change .

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Indeed.. Plenty of 100 year old designs still knocking about.

@bassmanjr100 5 ай бұрын

Matt was being pushed aside by his supplier. 😂 Story as old as time.

@garyh8315 5 ай бұрын

Matt is a great seller. Willing to help with any q's. Also willing to look at options that are also available. I have brought most of my radio bits n bobs from him 👍

@nickl3872 5 ай бұрын

Thank you again for the great information you provide!

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

My pleasure!

@DD5LP 5 ай бұрын

Years ago there were two standards on the thread pitch. One used in Europe and China and a different one used in the US and Japan. It was only a slight difference but meant that some pl259 plugs would not screw down all the way on some SO239s and the inner body of the PL259 would waggle in and out. Not a good connection. I haven't seen that lately so one or other of the standards must have won but I'm sure I and many other hams will have the problem connectors somewhere on cables that we made up 20 or so years ago! Famous repair to ft857/897 radios - replace the N type socket after someone had forced a pl259 into it! Another gem is the the inner connector in the N type connector will fit a BNC connector. Fun & games with all of these RF connectors! 73 Ed

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Interesting! I'd love to know more about the thread story.. Ahd yes, the old PL249 into N-type problem.. Never done it - but heard..!

@davelarcombe3099 3 ай бұрын

@@DXCommanderHQ The original PL259 / SO239 specified a 5/8" x 24 tpi thread for the coupling. For some unknown reason, Asian versions are commonly made with an M16 x 1mm thread. 16mm is close to 5/8". 1mm pitch is around 25.4 tpi which isn't the 24 tpi of the 5/8" version! Hence the binding when trying to couple "imperial" vs "metric" versions. Asian versions are often (but not always) designated as "SL16" which I presume tells you it has the metric thread.

@robertmeyer4744 5 ай бұрын

Love JIM's W6LG video. Great testing. Just buy good connectors ! The M & P PL259 are super and work up to UHF just fine. N may be better UHF and up only if you get quality connectors ! . I never had a problem with my DX commander SO-239 connector. Just focus on good coax ! Jim did a video on that as well ! . Cheers !

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Yes he did! Top guy..

@eknaap8800 5 ай бұрын

I only use N-type connectors on my VHF and UHF equipment.

@bassmanjr100 5 ай бұрын

Sounds like you may be making a mistake. I hope they are not more expensive.

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

I think *good* N Types are indeed superior.

@eknaap8800 5 ай бұрын

@@bassmanjr100 What is a few quid more for one's hobby?

@JimCliffe 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for the overview. The long thread body would be an advantage if you had to weatherproof the connection. It gives you more space for the tape or Duxseal to cover the connector. As for N-type connectors, the main advantage is that the're weatherproof. At least, they're *more* weatherproof than bare PL/SO 239 types. High end N-type preserve cable impedance through the connector, but that's not a certainty with "econony" types.

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Lots of folks suggesting that N Types are more weatherproof.. but if you check the latest designs over last 10 years, there's no difference between the two.. Of course, I am not comparing the "old" PL259.. But the latest designs that are effectively a PL259 inside an N Type body.

@DonzLockz 5 ай бұрын

I dunno but the M&P N types are supposed to be the ants pants as far as quality watertight connectors, but they ain't $1.30 each. Lol. I'm gonna checkout Jim's video now. ;)

@jackK5FIT 5 ай бұрын

Stay with Matt. I would rather have too long a thread body than too short to avoid the possible connection issue. I've not had very good luck with the Chinese connectors because the insulators tend to melt at much lower heat than they should. Maybe it's my shaky hand soldering sometimes too. They do work once you get them soldered but I still prefer a higher quality.

@vicmiller7191 5 ай бұрын

I have always looked for the longer threads for the chassis side of the connector. yours do seem to be longer and better for some of my 3d printed boxes that I make for custom chokes and UNUNs. The connector you have for my DXCommander is almost perfect. But as I said I would like it to be about 4 to 5 MM of more thread for my custom stuff. Thanks and 73 Vic de KE8JWE

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Interesting..

@Thomas-ZET 5 ай бұрын

I found out in the military that n connectors where the biggest failure when replacing smashed connectors in the field, we put adapters on and switched to 239’s, much easier and quicker with 239s

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Well, there you go.. Good data!

@MattHeere 5 ай бұрын

Hard to overstate the value of a quality connector. Never mind the RF performance, but one that goes together well and lasts the years is worth so much more than the $5 you'll save on the imported junk. I'm a BNC guy myself. People way underestimate the power handling capacity of them (up to a kilowatt in a well matched HF system). In a portable setup where you actually connect and disconnect often they're a God-send.

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Never considered that Matt.. Good one.

@wc4j 5 ай бұрын

I use N over 259 on my portable stuff as they seem more weather resistant, and my cables don't get nicked as no one wants N's Hi Hi

@arthurtwoshedsjackson6266 5 ай бұрын

I was mobile in Bristol a few years ago and the N Type female chassis mount on the back of my Yaesu dual band mobile radio , the centre pin broke. I had some spare time and I was looking on eBay at replacement ones and came across M0MAT. I emailed him and 15 minutes later, I was at his home QTH and got a replacement mount off of him. I saw the shop he runs with all his he connectors he supplies. I always recommend him and always but my connectors off of him, from that one experience I had.

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Yes, he's a top banana chap!

@alunroberts1439 5 ай бұрын

I see some FT897s with 2 PL259 sockets on US market mine and all others I see N type for VHF UHF I was going to change just for a test. I will look at other video as you say.

@ScatManAust 5 ай бұрын

I Could have killed for a longer socket a cuppla weeks ago. Don't know where and how I scored them, but I have quite a few PL259's that have a long-sleeved thread and they would not screw tight like you say but mine were a good thread off going tight. Almost to the point of the plug turning round and round past the sawtooth. Also, this one particular plug was in a mobile install and the looseness over time with the vibrations spread the inner terminal socket and caused an exceptionally bad connection and subsequently sent VSWR through the roof. I have also got SO239's with dodgy threads in that the pitch s ever slightly finer that it should be and with the same result as above. So much for standardization. These connectors also don't look like Chinese junk either.

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Ah! I heave heard about these weird threads.. Don also mentioned it (earlier comment).

@CamilleCullen-ow6qj 5 ай бұрын

I think a long thread body on an SO-239 would be great because it would give more distance to weatherproof on, especially if it is sticking out of a bulkhead. Robert K5TPC

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Hmm.. Good thinking.

@ryank5tar 5 ай бұрын

I would love to create a large BNC like a 259 with a quarter turn

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Fascinating!

@stephenwade8093 5 ай бұрын

The long thread gives water a chance to work its way in to the connector by running down the exposed thread, just my thought.

@hfvhf987 5 ай бұрын

Cal uses vaseline on the threads to stop that. Works a treat.

@get__some 5 ай бұрын

liquid electric tape works for me. called the manufacturer to be sure there was not any metal in the mix. used saltwater approved formula because my antenna is 10m away from a 55mph zone road that has lots of salt applied in the winter. zero issues.

@gfodale 5 ай бұрын

In the USMC, in the 1980's, we used N type and BNC. All Amphenol. The only PL-259 / SO-239 were at the base Ham / MARS station. To this day, I use all 3. Of the first two, I stick to Amphenol. Of the UHF connectors, I spec silver plated brass, as even with corrosion they conduct well. (the black oxide silver gets.) N type and BNC are 50 to 52 ohm as memory serves. I don't believe the UHF connectors have a consistent impedance rating. I should probably look it up. I looked it up on a data sheet. No mention of impedance for PL-259. I use COAX SEAL on the UHF connectors as they do not seal against weather on their own. COAX SEAL is a brand. Knock off products get hard and fail.

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Check out either SSB Electronics or Messi & Paoloni UHF connectors.

@Alan2E0KVRKing 5 ай бұрын

I buy all my N and 239/259 connectors in bulk on Ebay and have never had an issue with any of them (Solder version)

@KS0JD 5 ай бұрын

It seems like the older connectors that had a Bakelite type insert held up better in high temperatures then the pfe they use nowadays in the pl259. Just my thought. 73

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Interesting.. Not had an issue with PTFE

@anenglishmaninbrazil3212 5 ай бұрын

I have always preferred the PL259, I will confess to getting mine from RS I know I get Rodgerd just find the quality is always good

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

RS.. They'll be fine. Their quality control is top notch.

@hfvhf987 5 ай бұрын

All the talk of losses in PL259's has never made sense to me. It's fully shielded.

@timothymaimone8611 5 ай бұрын

Callum… in a perfect consumer world, your purchased connectors should have a data sheet on the signal-loss, and the materials used, silver or.Nickel plated brass, etc. 73 de KD6UYK (Tim).

@g4lmn-ron401 5 ай бұрын

Back in the day there were some really bad PL259 on sale so they got a bad reputation. The connectors M0MAT sells are really good and I would not go anywhere else. N Type are way more difficult to fit and it's not worth the effort.

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Good point Ron!

@WaterfallChaser-h2o 5 ай бұрын

Longer threads het my vote. If they bottom out and the connection is loose you have a bad/ high resistance connection and that eats power.

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Yep!

@m0aze611 5 ай бұрын

It don;t matter - because as long as the connector integrity is solid , with no signal degradation,in the configuration used why change? For me I’m a BNC man due to my experiences when I was an engineer. The RF side I dealt with PL259 didn’t exist until I became a ham. Good quality connectors are a must - thats all. Interesting debate regards Mike

@DXCommanderHQ 5 ай бұрын

Yes.. and you are right. As long as the connector is reliable and high quality, you're away!