Best and Easiest PL-259 Coax Connector Ever

K0PIR

I'm an Amateur Radio enthusiast. I love the hobby and experimenting with radios, antennas and software. On my YouTube channel I upload videos on the Icom 7300 and Icom 7610 along with Ham radio software programs. I hope to inspire people to try new things in Amateur Radio.

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Al Bisasky
4 years ago

Rich,

Thanks for sharing the info on the compression PL-259 connectors. They look like a fine bit of kit. I will definitely have to give them a try the next time that I use RG-8.

GL & GDX,

K3ZE

Guest
Dick N3HKN
4 years ago

eBay says Zero available. Since that site is quite sloppy could that really be correct? Placing an order with 0 available on eBay seems like a way to get a charge and no product….

Guest
William E Davis
4 years ago

Would this connector work on RG-8X?

Guest
Cromwell Campbell
4 years ago

Hi Rich,

I would like to add my agreement. I have been using these connectors ever since I saw a video by Steve Ellington on their ease of construction. And they do a better job of weather resistance!

K5CBC

Guest
Brad
4 years ago

I use M&P cables and connectors distributed by MFJ. Very high density braid. Can’t think of anything easier.

https://messi.it/en/catalogue/50-ohm-cables-ham-radio/hyperflex-13.htm

Brad

Guest
Brian NF0G
4 years ago

Hi Rich,
Never really enjoyed soldering PL-259’s and this looks like a great solution. Another great tip from you, thank you for showing this.
73 Brian

Guest
Brian NF0G
4 years ago

Wanted to update everyone because of an earlier comment. I saw the 0 connectors available too but ordered anyway. I got a confirmation that it would be shipped tomorrow.
73 Brian

Guest
Kent Eichstaedt
4 years ago

Rich, I 100% agree. compression is the best. Crimp is OK. and I would never use solder. I think I will try the Chinese as M&P are pricey. A thin wrench that fits the flats makes the job easier. Park Tool makes thin wrenches for bicycles. I also cut down a standard 18mm wrench to 3″ to take up less room in the radio tool box.

73 K9AEE Kent

Guest
ezy
4 years ago

Rich, good article.

I have used these around 6 months back. They are good but there is one issue with the thread and you can clearly see it in your pic there as well. The set back is very far and regardless of how tight you do them up on a so-239, they are loose.

Other than that, they never rusted etc so thats a plus.

73’s
vk2yi

Guest
Mike Sajdowitz
4 years ago

Rich, Watched your PL-259 video and was impressed. went to eBay and ordered and received 2 10 packs connectors for future use. Great video 73’s

K9RTJ

Guest
Andrew
4 years ago

Thanks for this! I bought some that didn’t come with any instructions, needed a little help to figure out which order all the bits went 🙂

Guest
Brad Denham
1 year ago

Richard…Hi, and thanks for turning me on to these PL-259’s. I bought a bag of 10 EA about two years ago and I am now FINALLY getting to my roof-top antenna project. I got the first PL-259 attached to my DavisRF ‘Bury-Flex’ (LMR-400 like) coax and it all went together well…except for the fact that the center conductor on the DavisRF is so thick I can’t get it all into the PL-259’s center conductor pin. I had to cut back some of the twisted center conductor to get it to fit but even then it was pushing out the hollow center pin from the plastic surround.

I ended up trimming more and more back and got it to all fit…with ~4 or 5 strands of the center conductor poking through to the tip of the fitting’s center conductor pin so I could solder it. I *think* all is well…but is there a larger diameter center pin that I should be using instead of having to cut back the wires?

Thanks for your time, videos, and instruction. Brad KF6PSL, Salt Lake City, UT

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KF6PSL
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