[amsat-bb] Re: Elk Antenna vs Arrow Antenna

[Edward Cole]

Kauto,

I completely agree.  I do not use PL-259 at work except for some 
Marine radio equipment.  Motorola mobile has gone to the mini-UHF and 
cellular is mostly TNC.  Base stations and repeaters are all 
N-connectors as are the duplexers.  All my antennas have N connectors 
as do the hardline runs.

What I hear from local hams is "its too hard to assemble N 
connectors" to which I say "hogwash" (a US term meaning 
ridiculous).  N connectors only require soldering the center pin 
which normally is gold plated.   PL-259s require "tons of heat" to 
solder the shield which risks melting the center insulator of the 
coax.  I have more instances of shorted PL-259 connectors.

MY DEMI xvtrs all are equipped with N-female and BNC connectors for 
RF connections.  It seems that mostly ham radios made in Japan come 
with SO-239 (female) connectors...and I would say this is because US 
hams are requesting them on their equipment (or have in the past).

My FT-847 has one N connector for 70cm but the other bands are all 
SO-239.  I added two sma connectors for separate Rx antennas on 2m 
and 70cm.  All my mw gear use either N, TNC, or sma's.......so???

73, Ed - KL7UW

At 02:32 AM 12/27/2008, Kauto Huopio OH2LFM wrote:
>I have an Elk myself, bought originally for emergency prepardness ops.
>Have tried
>with satellites couple of times - with very favourable results. One
>odd thing - why
>PL-256 connectors are still used in 2m/70cm equipment sold in US? We
>have a saying
>that PL-256 is a screwable banana plug connector.. at 70cm, loss is
>already noticeable.
>
>Why the ham radio equipment industry can't supply equipment with appropriate
>connectors like N on rigs and antennas to US market? In Europe, N is
>the way to go
>on yagis, amps and rigs on 2m and 70cm gear.
>
>--Kauto OH2LFM
>
>--
>Kauto Huopio OH2LFM - oh2lfm at srali.fi
>Hansakallionkuja 12 A 1, 02780 Espoo, Finland
>Tel. +358-40-5008774 (gsm)
>_______________________________________________
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