rg58 crimping tool ?

[unclefish]

Is there good crimping tools to buy and the ones i should stay away from? I am crimping mini uhf connectors to our motorola had4008a antennas, and should I be soldering the wire were it comes through that little gold center piece? thanks again for any help. I have a bunch of other questions to but I don't want to overload.

 

[Robb]

Welcome to the forum.

Ask any question that you want.

I use solder-type connectors; someone else may answer your question about crimping tools...

 

[BJ radionut]

Crimp Tools

I would not recommend any type of crimping type connectors for RF transmitting. I am with Robb on this. Most certaintly not anything above 30 Mhz and then only temporary repair.
I will use compression type (F-CONN or DIGI-Conn brands) on CATV RF and video cable but unless it's a quick fix situation will never use crimp stlye connectors for transmitting purposes.
I've seen to many failures, where I have had to repair work done by contractors or so-called service techs using those for a permenent type connector on transmitting equipment...IMHO...
But if that is where your headed...Ideal/ or Amp/ or Greenlee tools are companies that make what your looking for...
All the Best
BJ

 

[N0NB]

I will argue for the other side. Quality connectors such as those manufactured by RF Industries available through RF Parts, TESSCO, and other supply houses, are, in my experience, in no way inferior to older all solder designs. In fact, in my experience in a mobile environment (railroad trucks and machines) the crimp connectors have proven more durable than the solder style. RF Industries also has a variety of crimp tools and we use the hand tool at our shop. I also now use RF Industries connectors for my ham cables with no issue.

 

[Simon004]

I've been crimping BNC's onto RG58 for years and never had any problem with them failing. These are used on VHF taxi radio's TXing 25w.

Can't recommend a manufacturer, but I would definitely go for a ratchet type crimper, makes life much easier.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I for one was, note I said "was" and not "am", dead set against crimp on connectors. I can solder a connector as good as anybody out there and have always used good solder type connectors but I have been looking at the newer crimp on connectors lately and it has changed my mind. I probably will continue to use solder type connectors on outdoor cables, that's just me and my past experience with water/moisture ingress, but I am looking around for a GOOD crimp tool. A lot of the problems people have had with crimp on connectors is that the wrong tool was used to install them. A lot of guys think they can use pliers or vice-grips to crimp the connector and they are WRONG. You need the proper connector to do the job right. Almost all the commercial radio techs here are using the crimp on connectors to 900 MHz without a problem.I have been quite surprised at how strong the connector grips the cable when pulled. Sadly I think the reason why they are using them is that none of them have the ability to make a decent solder connection anymore.

 

[LA1]

I make cables for micro wave. I too use solder, I solder RG58 -N with LMR cable. With solder I can re-use the connector. For the crimp ring I cut a peice from a steel can like a tomato or pineapple can . You have to have a good crimper, once crimped and the shrink tube pulled up ...looks the same and I think works better than a crimp ring. Also can make it wider (longer) than the crimp ring. Experiment with different diameters. Oh yeah also soda cans do not work has to be steel.