15-NOV-2009
RG-213 vs. RG-58U
*****With many things bigger is not always better but with VHF coax bigger actually is better. This is a visual comparison of Ancor Marine RG-213 and RG-58U. The signal loss for RG-213 at 100' is -2.7dB and for RG-58U it is -6.1 dB.
****If you want a truly great VHF coax stay away from Ancor or the other "marine" coax cables and instead look towards Times Microwave LMR 400 Ultraflex. The LMR 400 Ultraflex offers a -1.5 dB loss which is outstanding. Many of the hard core Ham radio guys swear by Times and Belden coax. I got my Ancor RG-213 for free, so I used it. Would it be my first choice now that I am aware of the LMR 400 Ultraflex? No, but if you get a good deal on any RG-8 or RG-213 you might as well use it as it will be far better than an RG-8X or RG-58U.
I have learned a lot from my ham buddies but am sure I will be schooled after writing this. This article is written for the DIY boater who does not want to know more than they absolutely need to about coax or terminations. The die hard Ham's will debate for hours on solder vs. crimp terminations but I think, for boaters, I have found a solution that bridges the best of both worlds with a solder and a crimp. It is easy, and quick, and a lot more reliable than those Shakespeare quick connect terminals..
09-MAY-2009
Strip Wire
I won't get to technical here as I want this to be simple for the average DIY boater. I used my Leatherman to gently cut the wire jacket, shielding and dielectric. Be very careful to not score the center conductor. Once you've cut through everything pull the stripped part from the wire. I simply strip it about 3/4 to 1".
09-MAY-2009
Remove Dielectric
The shield and jacket will slide off the dielectric then you simply pull the dielectric off the end too.
09-MAY-2009
Stripped End
This is what it will look like stripped.
09-MAY-2009
PL-259 Crimp/Solder Connector
This is the Pan Pacific UHF 7606 crimp & solder connector. These are great connectors and came highly recommended by a Ham friend. The tip is gold plated and the build is robust with good quality machining. I buy these from HR Distributors in Portland, ME. They are located on 101 Hanover Street and they can be reached at (207) 773-2552. They will ship where ever you want and their prices are excellent. This terminal works well with standard RG-213 but I have been told it may not fit on the Times LMR-400 coax wire. Times does make their own terminals and these may fit better than the UHF 7606.
09-MAY-2009
PL-259 Crimp End
The area on top, with the cross hatching, is where the shield will get crimped onto. The cross hatches help hold the shield in place and provide good strength & grip. You will want to measure this area then strip the jacket of the wire back about 1/16" - 1/8" longer than the measurement to make up for the thickness of the barrel. If you strip it longer no worries because you can just trim the shield shorter as necessary.
09-MAY-2009
Slide On The Coponents
After stripping the jacket back you'll want to slide on some adhesive lined heat shrink, the crimp band and the threaded nut. That shield looked much better before I dropped the wire end into the gravel at the Mast rack.
09-MAY-2009
Carefully Flare Out The Shield
Carefully flare out the shield so you can slide the connector up and over the dielectric. Ideally one would use a coax stripper for cleaner cuts but I try to write these articles with the minimal amount of tool investment to get the job done. You'll already need a .429" crimper to use this method anyway. If you want to spring for a coax stripper, it is a good investment, as you can usually use them on other types of coax too.
09-MAY-2009
Slide On The PL-259 Conenctor
In this picture the shield is actually a little bit to short. If this happens you'll want to strip the jacket back a little further. Ideally you want the shield to go up to the lip on the connector, but not beyond it.
09-MAY-2009
Slide The Crimp Band Up
In this photo I slid the crimp band into place over the shielding. As you can see (click the image and look close) there is an errant piece of shielding wire that needs to be removed. Make sure you get a good fit with no shield strands hanging out the top.
09-MAY-2009
Crimper
This tool is the Hanlong HT-336K crimper. It does .100", .128" & .429". The critical die for RG-8 or RG-213 is the .429. This tool is intended for use on RG-8, RG-11, RG-174, RG-179 & RG-213. The same tool is also sold by TerraWave Solutions as the same part number (HT-336K) at MacConnection but for more money.
TerraWave Solutions HT-336K
I paid about $30.00 for this tool from HR Distributors in Portland, ME. They are located on 101 Hanover Street and they can be reached at (207) 773-2552. They will ship where ever you want.
09-MAY-2009
Crimp Made, Ready To Solder
In this picture the crimp has been executed. You want to make sure to crimp in the middle of the crimp band. Doing this leaves smooth strain relief and no hard edges to impinge on the jacket.
For the soldering I use a mini-butane torch. A true Ham radio guy might cringe but when working out side, at a mast rack, in a boat yard a soldering iron just won't always cut it, especially with 15 knot winds..
