Ham Radio Help Desk

A few years ago I installed lengths of LMR-400 Direct Burial coaxial cable in my back yard. I wanted good connectors for my investment. I seriously considered the superior N connectors, but my DX Engineering Coax Switch uses SO-239 connectors. While not the high quality choice, I succumbed to tradition and sought out suppliers for the PL-259.

Money was really no object since the connector is often the weak link in the system and deserves quality. I just made an investment in 240 feet of LMR-400 cable and wasn’t about to shortchange the connector.

Friends suggested the classic twist-on then solder-the-braid type of PL-259. I recognized this type would fit my coax fine, but I ignored the advice since industry (especially Aerospace) shuns shield solder connectors for a variety of good reasons.

The attributes for my PL-259 connectors were…

• Low Ferromagnetic Content to reduce IMD – This is hard to find. “Pro” connectors are made of brass and plated with silver. Sometime in the 1970s nickel plated steel came on the scene. I certainly did not want Nickel Plating. I figured steel connectors were in my future, but silver plating was mandatory.
• Solder Center Conductor
• Crimp Shield Over Connector Barrel
• Adhesive Heat-Shrink Tubing to cover the crimp

Good connectors are brass with silver plating, solder center and crimp shield plus come with a pre-cut piece of appropriately sized heat-shrink.

Fleeman, Anderson & Bird Corporation offers a good compromise connector at a fantastic price.

It does NOT come with the heat-shrink, but they sell that too in four foot lengths.

A good crimp tool is necessary with a .429 hex crimp die.

Yes, these are not cheap, but I made the investment and put it in the tool bag. It has been used dozens of times spreading its cost. I have no regrets purchasing this tool.

So anyway this post is just to let amateurs know good quality crimp connections are available today with the supplies from Fleeman, Anderson & Bird.