PL259 & S0239 connectors help please

If you want to, email me photos of the bits that you already have and exactly what you want to do, and I'll put my thinking cap on.

Hi Stephen

I already have one fitting as in the picture and also the magnetic antenae mount / cable has the PL259 on RG58 cable

The UHF will be in the van permanently but I am using a magnetic mount ground independent antenae so I can put up and down as it suits me and just connect the coax to the UHf each time I set the antenae up.

Therefore the ezy eye is definately the way I want to go as it will be cleaner, neater etc. My post showed the only way I could see at the moment

From the picture it appears the BNC crimp socket is simply an inline joiner type connection that consists of plug / socket?

if so does it take the RG58 cable and do you reckon it would pass through the ezy eye?

Thanks

Graeme

Graeme,

You can buy a PL259 plug to BNC socket adapter.

This can be screwed onto the socket on the back of the UHF.

Then put a BNC plug onto the RG58 cable from the antenna. This will pass through the Eze-eye.

Eze, aye.

Jaycar PL259 to BNC adapter

Image Could Not Be Found

Convenience far outweighs any minor (not considerable) signal loss and any impact on SWR is negligible.

Sorry Bushy but I agree with Steve.

The PL259 is recommended for HF and maybe VHF frequencies. It is used for UHF CB as a cheap and readily available alternative. Most other UHF systems utilises "N" type connectors. You can lose more than half your signal with just one single PL259.

That's not what I would call minor when the range is a max of 15Kms (approx) on moist or wet ground.

I also noticed in someone's photo, that a UHF antenna is mounted on a TV support mast. The antenna is "down" the side of the mast right next to the metal mast that is grounded. Or if its not, is should be. That would KILL more than half the signal. Mount it up above and away from the TV antenna, preferably on a separate pole.

Phil

That's the closest photo I could find.

It's actually a Next G antenna.

Fair enough. May I suggest that you do the same for it. Move it at least above the metal mast. Where it is its like putting a metal pipe over it and shading it from the signals. Even if its open on one side.

Phil

vk1dx, essentially, I agree with you but the practicalities are that the off the shelf stainless mounting bracket would foul with the bulky part of the Wingaurd when it folds down.

In its present position it is clear of that bulky piece.

Short of custom making the antenna bracket (via an angle grinder) the line of least resistance is as shown.

On my own van I have both a Next G and UHF CB antenna on the Wingaurd.

I haven't used the Next G because my Iphone doesn't have an external antenna socket and those passive things are useless, but the UHF antenna works fine within the constraints of how we use it, ie, close range van-to-van or van-to-handheld.

All cool. If one went around dictating what people must do to their comms and such then one would have a very loney life. I am far from dictating. That's why I use words to suggest how to improve things. And exactly why I said "preferably on a separate pole".

Practically the radio appears to be satisfying your needs. But remember the close metal pole will be causing a missmatch internally to the antenna, coax and the innards of the radio. In the vernacular of the CBer its quite possible that it is not SWARED in correctly. And if not so the incorrectly matched antenna system will be "fighting" with the PA final circuitry and more than likely lessening the serviceable lifetime of the components in the radio and may make it fail at any time. Or you may be lucky and it will outlast both you and I.

Personally I would find another mount. Maybe an antenna base, not a ground independant base, in the roof of the van and remove the antenna when on the move. That's where I put one before we ditched the van. I also had a full amateur radio station installed in the van. HF, VHF and UHF radios as well as PA's (capable of 1.5 kilowatts ), antenna patch and antenna rotation controllers. I do not use ground independant antenna bases.

I do not know the site parameters and cannot comment any further.

Anyway, lets face it, UHF is not the best for any mobile radio setup. Too many shortcomings. But it helps. And its free.

Phil