Coax connectors

[Roger Long]

I asked a friend who is a ham radio operator and sailor whether I should use the screw on or crimp connectors for my new run of VHF antenna cable. He said that, if I think I could ever get in a situation where my life depended on the radio, soldered connectors are the only way to go. I can envision a situation like that so I followed his advice with the help of this video that shows how it should be done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzXXjzmA-IE

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Didn't look at the video but I bet the punchline is to never depend upon crimped or screwed-on connectors. The hard part is knowing when too much heat will destroy the dielectric insulator and only practice can teach that.

 

[sailaway78]

Solder

I make it a habit to not ever use any connection that isn't soldered, and protected. May be overkill, but the only thing I hate worse than doing something, is having to do it the second time.

 

[Ron20324]

I favor crimp AND solder.

 

[paulj]

It looks like RG-58 cable not RG-8.
I've used mechnical screw ons and soldered the inner core wire only to the pin but in either case use these tips below.

Do not bend the cable too sharp or compress wire with clamps too tight the distance between the outer jacket and the inner core is 50 Ohms.

Do a continuty check with an volt meter before installing or better yet check forward and reverse power with a Bird watt meter.

paulj :troll:


Those braided wires are sharp...........