[Antennas] Connectors for LMR-400

Fri May 29 19:58:34 EDT 2009

I have dealt with CRIMP connectors for over 35 years in LMR/Two way biz.
They are stronger than soldering and WORK...I have used AMP and other
similar crimps...all my current connectors (MINI UHF) on 100watt Motorola
Astro P25 UHF radios are crimped.......DONT USE SOLDER on LMR400!!!....I
have dealt with LMR400 for YEARS as a professional.
Get the tool and dies, you'll be happy you did...and get your local friends
to buy LMR400 and connectors and you have them covered with the tool!!!
EVERYONE wins. Ratcheted crimp tools WILL produce the crimp force (it's
CALLED TORQUE or using a FULCRUM point)!!! I use hand crimping tools all the
time on telephone, Cat 5 and RF cables...the AMPS were a PITA to use if they
got jammed, you could almost NOT get them loose...and there went a 150ドル-200
tool!! BUT once done, you can HANG off that connector via the coax and it
will NOT come out....the coax will rip 1st. Paladin makes a GREAT crimper
that WORKS, is fairly reasonable for the price AND you can change dies and
use it on other cables, etc..
Chris
WB5ITT
PG-9-5322 FCC Commercial since 1974
Two way tech: Bartlett (W5KWA, sk) Electronics (1983-1984), Gulf States
Utilities/Entergy 1984-1996), 
CenterPoint Energy 2004-present as well as:
Engineer, ABC Radio Networks, Dallas (1996-1998) AND Chief Engineer
KDMX/KEGL FMs and 1190AM (now KFXR), DFW (1998-2001)
I KNOW what I am talking about here in crimp vs soldered...dont waste
time..spend your money wisely..
-----Original Message-----
From: antennas-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:antennas-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of David C. Hallam
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 5:47 PM
To: Antennas
Subject: Re: [Antennas] Connectors for LMR-400
I have received almost diametrically opposed replies about what type of 
connectors to use on LMR-400.
One group is to use only crimp type connectors.
The other is that crimp connectors are fine only if you have a hydraulic 
crimping unit. Otherwise you should use a soldered connector. A hand 
crimping tool does not generate enough force to proper apply the crimp.
David
LC2JD/4