Waterproof SO-239 covers

[Jim Brown-10]

On 7/16/2020 10:46 AM, Mike Harris via Elecraft wrote:
> I must say that over many years and without any ill effect I've never
> bought into this idea of Gorilering up a PL259 with pliers beyond finger
> tight. A quarter of a turn is an unbelievable suggestion. I've just
> tried it and a couple of degrees is the best I could do without being
> brutal and even then I don't thing it would go any further.
>
> Urban myth maybe?

No, misunderstanding/poor way of describing the problem. For good RF
contact, the entire circumference of male and female connector must make
solid and continuous contact. This can only happen if the teeth in the
male connector fit within the corresponding gaps in the female
connector. If that has been accomplished, wrench-tight may be less than
a quarter turn, but it also depends on how strong your fingers are, and
whether you are able to get a good grip on the connector. For example, I
need more than a quarter turn with pliers in my fairly dense entry panel
in the wall under my operating desk. And if the teeth are not properly
mated, it's common to get more than a quarter turn when using the wrench.
>
> Also, I've never had a failure after simply applying a generous wrap of
> self amalgamating tape, nothing else, to waterproof coax connectors. Our
> UV environment is pretty powerful, clear skies and sunshine can turn the
> skin on my head into huge dandruff seven days later after 30 minutes
> exposure.

That depends entirely on the particular tape you've chosen. Some are
more UV resistant than others.

73, Jim K9YC
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[George Danner-2]

Years ago in a land far-far away all video coax connectors in Broadcast
Television were UHF (PL259).
We only tightened them hand (finger) tight. In may places pliers would have
not fit any way.

In black & white days we would want to be flat from DC to around 8 MHz with
a smooth roll off to about 15 MHz.
Later in color most of the video distribution amplifiers were flat to even
25 MHz.

From the late 60s to late 70s the connector density increased significantly
and we went to BNC for video & later for even audio when we converted to
digital audio distribution.

In a typical studio plant any discontinuity in video coax tended to show up
as a "ghost" in the video in black & white and in color the results could be
only described as Technicolor gone wrong. We rarely had discontinuities -
most of the time it was a poorly made connector or center migration due to
too tight a bent in the coax. I don't ever recall that tightening a
connector with pliers corrected these discontinuities. We solved the poorly
made connectors by going to crimp style of connectors.

When I became a Ham after retiring from Broadcasting - I had to go back to
using UHF connectors. First tool I bought was a coax connector crimp tool!
Unfortunately I could not afford the $300 to $500 tools for each coax size
that we had at work. I had to buy a much less expensive tool with
replaceable dies. Not quite as convenient & easy to use but much more cost
effective! Then again I wasn't going to be spending hours putting coax
connectors on cables.

A broadcast plant had many hundreds and probably thousands of uhf coax
connectors to deal with and a lot of experience in all conditions from fully
climate controlled (tape rooms) to harsh outdoors on ENG or SNG truck masts
going 60 or 70 MPH in rain, sleet and snow.
In fact when we replaced a 1,000' tower. We cut off the coax seal on
connectors that were maybe 20 or 30 years old - the connectors were bright
and shinny underneath!

Proper installation of the UHF connector is to make sure it is made
properly, and then properly mated by rotating the coax until the tiny
indentations on the female are found and mated with the male. Then tighten
it hand tight. If not indoors then seal the connection.

73
George AI4VZ

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Harris via Elecraft

I must say that over many years and without any ill effect I've never
bought into this idea of Gorilering up a PL259 with pliers beyond finger
tight. A quarter of a turn is an unbelievable suggestion.
...
Regards,

Mike VP8NO


>    ...
>
> Don't forget to tighten the connector 1/4 turn after "finger tight" with
> a pair of pliers to make a real seal.
>
> 73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Don Wilhelm]

One problem is that "finger-tight" is not the same for all hams.
The other is the use of off-brand connectors that do not fit well.
The other is that some connectors do not engage the protruding 'tabs' on
the PL-259 do not seat properly with the indentations on the SO-239.
Those are the ones for which "finger-tight" is not good enough.

I agree that 1/4 turn is too much - if you can turn it that much, it was
not properly mated, remove and start again.  Just a slight touch of the
pliers will make it certain the connector is tight.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/16/2020 5:25 PM, Gmail - George wrote:
> Years ago in a land far-far away all video coax connectors in Broadcast
> Television were UHF (PL259).
> We only tightened them hand (finger) tight. In may places pliers would have
> not fit any way.
>
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[KENT TRIMBLE]

Amen, George, on mating the “tiny indentations.”  It’s easy to ignore this step because many hams think they mate automatically as the PL-259 penetrates the SO-239.  They sometimes don’t.  The coax itself has to be rotated back and forth until the mating can be felt through one’s fingers.  Indentations on cheap connectors have minimal mating surfaces or none at all.

73,

Kent  K9ZTV  

> On Jul 16, 2020, at 4:25 PM, Gmail - George <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Proper installation of the UHF connector is to make sure it is made
> properly, and then properly mated by rotating the coax until the tiny
> indentations on the female are found and mated with the male. Then tighten
> it hand tight.
>
> 73
> George AI4VZ
>

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Rose]

Type "N” connectors ..... the only way.  Next in line is "baby" bNc.

73

Ken Kopp - K0PP


On Thu, Jul 16, 2020, 16:47 Walter Underwood <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I screw it down, wiggle it, back it off, wiggle it, push it down, screw it
> down, repeat, then switch to Type N connectors (which don’t need any of
> that nonsense).
>
> wunder
> K6WRU
> Walter Underwood
> CM87wj
> http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)
>
> > On Jul 16, 2020, at 2:45 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> > One problem is that "finger-tight" is not the same for all hams.
> > The other is the use of off-brand connectors that do not fit well.
> > The other is that some connectors do not engage the protruding 'tabs' on
> the PL-259 do not seat properly with the indentations on the SO-239. Those
> are the ones for which "finger-tight" is not good enough.
> >
> > I agree that 1/4 turn is too much - if you can turn it that much, it was
> not properly mated, remove and start again.  Just a slight touch of the
> pliers will make it certain the connector is tight.
> >
> > 73,
> > Don W3FPR
> >
> > On 7/16/2020 5:25 PM, Gmail - George wrote:
> >> Years ago in a land far-far away all video coax connectors in Broadcast
> >> Television were UHF (PL259).
> >> We only tightened them hand (finger) tight. In may places pliers would
> have
> >> not fit any way.
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[ke9uw]

I wiggle the connector as I finger tighten the barrel. The result is that they are difficult to unscrew. Also I use a heavy silicone grease on the threads and on the back where the barrel contacts the connector. I have never had any issues with water in 20 years doing that.

Jack BMW Motorcycles
Chuck KE9UW
[hidden email]

Sent from my iPad

> On Jul 16, 2020, at 12:49 PM, Mike Harris via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I must say that over many years and without any ill effect I've never bought into this idea of Gorilering up a PL259 with pliers beyond finger tight. A quarter of a turn is an unbelievable suggestion. I've just tried it and a couple of degrees is the best I could do without being brutal and even then I don't thing it would go any further.
>
> Urban myth maybe?
>
> Also, I've never had a failure after simply applying a generous wrap of self amalgamating tape, nothing else, to waterproof coax connectors. Our UV environment is pretty powerful, clear skies and sunshine can turn the skin on my head into huge dandruff seven days later after 30 minutes exposure.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mike VP8NO
>
>> On 16/07/2020 12:21, Phil Kane wrote:
>>> On 7/15/2020 6:50 PM, Drew AF2Z wrote:
>>> I would use Coax Seal. Same idea as duct seal but it's more pliable,
>>> more wx resistant and a little stickier. It will last forever, never
>>> hardens and can be peeled off when needed. Might want to screw pl-259
>>> shells onto the socket threads first, then seal them. The sockets &
>>> shells will be pristine when you go to use them.
>> Don't forget to tighten the connector 1/4 turn after "finger tight" with
>> a pair of pliers to make a real seal.
>> 73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
>> Elecraft K2/100   s/n 5402
>>> From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
>> Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Jim Brown-10]

On 7/16/2020 2:25 PM, Gmail - George wrote:
> I don't ever recall that tightening a
> connector with pliers corrected these discontinuities. We solved the poorly
> made connectors by going to crimp style of connectors.

There is a very large difference in signal to noise ratios and operating
power levels between an analog video production facility and a ham
station. 30-40 dB SNR is great for that broadcast plant, and unless it's
colocated with the transmitter, far less exposure to RF than a ham
station running legal limit. In our ham stations, we may need 100 dB or
more rejection of RF; the 60 dB difference translates to a 1,000,000:1
power ratio and a 1,000:1 ration of voltage or current.

In addition to my own station, where I do a lot of serious contesting,
I've long been part of teams that do serious county expeditions, and I
read a lot to try to learn as much as possible from others who do it
more, and at a higher level. Two admonitions from these folks who do it
in the field stand out. 1) If anything is flaky in the station, ALWAYS
suspect a bad piece of coax or badly terminated connector. 2) Always
make sure that all connectors are wrench tight.

And I'll add my own -- NEVER use junk connectors or adapters anywhere in
your station. For RF connectors, that means Amphenol (83-1SP w/no suffix
for UHF) or used MIL-spec. For audio, that means Neutrik or Switchraft.

73, Jim K9YC
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Steve Gray]

I use "Plasticene" (maybe known as modelling clay?)
In my experience it never hardens, it is waterproof and easy to remove. I
used to use the orange tapered vinyl boots that were used on mineral
insulated "Pyro" cable over the top since they are a great seal over PL259s
but I have used up my stock. I make sure that the cable is not free to flap
around and "Plasticene" does the job.

If there's only two "teeth" on the PL259 connector then I frequently file
them off and ignore the slight plating loss. I cover the threads with a
mixture of zinc and Vaseline anyway. This is a concoction that we used to
use at work (in a loosely aerospace related company) to facilitate riveted
ground points on galley structures prior to Meggar tests, but that process
fell into disuse. It came about because the guys were using heatsink
compound until I arrived and pointed out their error!  I still use the zinc
and Vaseline on threads though because it lubricates and the zinc helps
conductivity a little, but my stock has all but gone.

Steve, G4VRR.



--
Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Phil Kane-2]

On 7/16/2020 11:31 AM, KENT TRIMBLE wrote:
>
> The "quarter turn" idea most often refers to the trick of backing-off a
> screw "a quarter turn" and then re-tightening in order to break up
> corrosion.  More than one restorer has brought vintage equipment to life
> by doing nothing more than that.

I apologize to all - I did mis-speak. Just a good "past snug" is about
what I meant.   And yes, a proper wrap if Rescue Tape will keep it dry -
or so my  experience has shown.

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
Elecraft K2/100   s/n 5402

From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]