Best VHF cable connector???

[redsky49]

I am installing a new VHF antenna and LMR-400 cable. What is the best choice for a weatherproof LMR-400 connector at the (masthead mounted) antenna.

The antenna has a SO239 socket so I will need a PL259 plug. What is the preferred brand/model?

I will certainly tape/insulate/seal the exposed connector, but would like to stack the odds as much in my favor as possible.

Thanks

[Captain Ludd]

Originally Posted by redsky49

I am installing a new VHF antenna and LMR-400 cable. What is the best choice for a weatherproof LMR-400 connector at the (masthead mounted) antenna.

The antenna has a SO239 socket so I will need a PL259 plug. What is the preferred brand/model?

I will certainly tape/insulate/seal the exposed connector, but would like to stack the odds as much in my favor as possible.

Thanks

I get PL259's made to order here in the UK.
I doubt they are available anywhere else.
I only like the ones that you solder as a starting point.
I'll see if I can find you a link later tonight.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Captain Ludd

I get PL259's made to order here in the UK.

Really??!! They start casting metal when you order a PL259? I would think these are made by the thousands per hour.

[St. Elsewhere]

Get a good quality soldered PL259, and use this approach to wether proof it: My Famous Three-Step Water Proofing Process

[Captain Ludd]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Really??!! They start casting metal when you order a PL259? I would think these are made by the thousands per hour.

I'll just ignore that.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Captain Ludd

I'll just ignore that.

Pls. explain what you mean, I never heard of PL259's that are made to order?

There's no hidden meanings between the lines of what I write, I do not intend to be nasty, I just don't get what you mean?

[St. Elsewhere]

I thought "made to order" was intended to mean the installation process instead of the manufacture of the connector fitting.

Having reread the post it appears that he was talking about the manufacture of the PL259. If so, I'll bet that they are costly, and wonder what weather proofing features they have.

[Captain Ludd]

It is intended to mean that these are not off the shelf items and are made in limited production runs once sufficient orders are received by the seller.
They are very high quality.
I have put up a picture of two "normal" connectors (left) and the type I use on the right.
My guess is that they weigh twice what a normal one weighs.

The second picture shows the pin arrangement. (hopefully)

[Captain Ludd]

Originally Posted by St. Elsewhere

I thought "made to order" was intended to mean the installation process instead of the manufacture of the connector fitting.

Having reread the post it appears that he was talking about the manufacture of the PL259. If so, I'll bet that they are costly, and wonder what weather proofing features they have.

They are costly but are intended to be used inside so have no weather proofing.

[colemj]

You will find the LMR400 to be on the large size for a PL259 and you will be messing with it quite a bit to get it to fit.

I prefer N-connectors for this with a 259 converter.

For weather-proofing, just wrap it in coax seal or silicon tape followed by electrical tape.

Mark

[Captain Ludd]

Mark, I had in my mind that the LMR was up the mast and the PL would be in the back of the radio.
I use Amalgamated Tape for weather proofing and that has lasted well in rain, not sure about salt though.

[colemj]

I was thinking amalgamated tape when I wrote silicon tape. I meant that stuff like rescue tape - whatever that is.

Mark

[Captain Ludd]

Originally Posted by colemj

I was thinking amalgamated tape when I wrote silicon tape. I meant that stuff like rescue tape - whatever that is.

Mark

Lol

Now I have to look up rescue tape :-)

[redsky49]

Originally Posted by colemj

You will find the LMR400 to be on the large size for a PL259 and you will be messing with it quite a bit to get it to fit.

I prefer N-connectors for this with a 259 converter.

For weather-proofing, just wrap it in coax seal or silicon tape followed by electrical tape.

Mark

I will gladly show my ignorance here, but I don't know what a Type N fitting is. I went to the Amphenol web site and simply didn't know where to turn.

In the past, I have just bought a PL-259 from the local marine store and soldered the thing together. If memory serves, they were Shakespeare brand connectors.

For this application, I am trying to observe 'best practices' and want to optimize the installation, though the prior performance of the radio has been very good. The Pl fitting is at the bottom of the antenna.

If LMR-400 is unwieldy, maybe fall back to RG-213?

School me, please!

As for waterproofing, I had planned to first heat shrink (the adhesive lined kind), then wrap with silicone tape and a wire tie to ensure it never unravels. Sound okay?

[St. Elsewhere]

An N description is here: N connector - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia