[W9WLS]

Murphy’s Law as applied to RF Coax Connectors



Soldering RF connectors to coax cable can be frustrating. What many don’t know is Murphy is “helping.”



1. If you bring N connectors down from the shop for the job you will find you need at least N+1.

2. If using N type connectors you will drop the only center pin and never find it again.

3. If using RG-58 all your PL-259 adapters will be for RG-59.

4. And vice-versa.

5. You will find the solder is back in the shop after you bring the connectors down.

6. You will find the dykes are back in the shop after bringing down the solder.

7. The solder will readily cover the threads for the outer shell, but not adhere to the shield.

8. Once enough heat is applied to the center pin to melt solder you will find the center insulator has also melted and the pin is now at 45 degrees.

9. After one end is completed you will find you soldered the connector to the end of the roll of coax, not the piece you cut off.

10. Once the body to the connector is heated enough to take solder, the inside cable will have melted enough to cause a short.

11. If you solder one end and detect a short and remove the connector, the short will turn out to be at the other end.

12. If there are no shorts found the cable will be found to be open.

13. After completing the soldering on both ends you will discover you left off the outer shell.

14. If you remembered the outer shell it will be backwards.

15. After completing the connections you will find the length of the cable is exactly 1 foot short.


Gary – W5UUO