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Jumper cables, buying advice needed
- Thread starter TruckerKevin
- Start date
I for one will never use any crimp on connectors.I will go with solder on every time.I don’t trust crimp on for any connection.
SIX-SHOOTER
In nearly 3 years I’ve never had a crimp/solder connector fail...either inside or outside. The crimp part clamps the braid/shield to a knurled end and locks it in rock solid. Then solder the center connector. You’ll never melt the dielectric again or have a cold solder joint. I use to solder all my connectors until I tried the crimp and solder ones from DXEngineering. In my experience the majority of PL-259 failures outside occur because of moisture and failure to properly secure the coax at the connection point.
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Well I respect that. Maybe it’s a preference thing and for me I like the crimp better. As long as it works and you have no issues then it doesn’t really matter I don’t guess. I just don’t like the solder-on ones and I have yet to experience a failure with the crimp.
I chose to solder it all. Just how I learned. Use much better connectors now tho. Silver plated with Teflon insulator. But hey... back in the day... Radio Shack was your buddy and cheap! LOL
There is actually a mil spec for crimped on coaxial connectors so it is a very reliable way to attach connectors to coax. The key to solid mechanical connections is to use a good quality crimper that is made for the individual connector you are attaching. No substitutions. You can really bang them out once you get some practice.
I will stick with Amphenol Silver Plated Solder on and know I am secure with them.
SIX-SHOOTER
Nothing wrong with sticking with solder type. It's being regarded as out dated by many of us.
The crimp/solder does give the best of both. The shield is the weak point on solder connectors if not done right plus adapters have to be used on smaller coax.
Crimping the shield with the proper tool gives a tight hexagon shape around it.
Soldering the tip is easy and crimping the shield is much easier and faster than soldering it. There is also no uncertainty that the shield is making full contact with the body of the connector with a crimp.
More pre-made cables from DXegineering and ABR and others are using solder/crimp and their cables are good.
Commercial radio and other applications wire connectors are using crimp or compression type. I never seen a tech using a solder iron at a cell tower site or elsewhere.
The crimp/solder does give the best of both. The shield is the weak point on solder connectors if not done right plus adapters have to be used on smaller coax.
Crimping the shield with the proper tool gives a tight hexagon shape around it.
Soldering the tip is easy and crimping the shield is much easier and faster than soldering it. There is also no uncertainty that the shield is making full contact with the body of the connector with a crimp.
More pre-made cables from DXegineering and ABR and others are using solder/crimp and their cables are good.
Commercial radio and other applications wire connectors are using crimp or compression type. I never seen a tech using a solder iron at a cell tower site or elsewhere.
TRPC , Your scaring me here ! Never thought I'd hear " Crimp" from you ? Did you install Cable Tv & have the crimpers ?
I just bought a 3' cord for that Kev 27-4 , just easier for me & i'm in no hurry . But I have those crimpers ! Btw I've used the Non-Solder before on my Boat VHF & it works fine .
I just bought a 3' cord for that Kev 27-4 , just easier for me & i'm in no hurry . But I have those crimpers ! Btw I've used the Non-Solder before on my Boat VHF & it works fine .
Definitely nothing wrong with sticking to what works for you. The crimper I use costs around $150 so unless you make a lot of cables it just might not be economical to crimp. When done right a soldered connector is a thing of beauty.
I think I read every post thus far, but if not mentioned, coaxial cable can be custom-ordered. Type, length, connectors.
From reasonable in prices to $$$. Several suppliers.
I’ve had a few order add-ons of “basic” coax thru DX ENGINEERING this way. (Don’t yet own coax tools).
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From reasonable in prices to $$$. Several suppliers.
I’ve had a few order add-ons of “basic” coax thru DX ENGINEERING this way. (Don’t yet own coax tools).
.
Humm,bought a crimp end jumper,vswr was way out,checked a set that is dead on n was way high. I whacked the crimp on ends off ,got my electrical solder n trusty weller out n 2 pl 259s n 5 minutes later i cured high vswr.paid 10 bucks for that jumper then add another 6 bucks for pl 259 no more lazy cheep iffy crimps.if you get enough heat on the 259 before you apply solder it wont come loose
I want to buy a crimper for RG8x and RG8. I don't have any doubt the crimp/solder connections will work excellent. I have been using crimp-on BNCs for years...and they're not only awesome, but I can also get them at Lowes when I get a crazy project in mind and can't wait.
Most folks don't use an adequate soldering iron on PL-259s, and that's where they run into problems. Big Iron, get in and get out, then and cool quickly on a damp towel. Have never had problems doing them like that...but if you sit there with a 40 watt iron all day you're going to screw it up.
I picked up a couple cables a while back from a CB shop....and they had done a terrible job on them. Had to cut the ends off and redo them. I have several pre-made cables that are crimped and they're all perfect.
Garbage...solder wasn't wetted to the PL259, let alone the braid. Popped it off with my fingernail. Braid was trimmed very poorly and showed a dead short at DC.
Most folks don't use an adequate soldering iron on PL-259s, and that's where they run into problems. Big Iron, get in and get out, then and cool quickly on a damp towel. Have never had problems doing them like that...but if you sit there with a 40 watt iron all day you're going to screw it up.
I picked up a couple cables a while back from a CB shop....and they had done a terrible job on them. Had to cut the ends off and redo them. I have several pre-made cables that are crimped and they're all perfect.
Garbage...solder wasn't wetted to the PL259, let alone the braid. Popped it off with my fingernail. Braid was trimmed very poorly and showed a dead short at DC.