BNC plug

[bromleybysea]

I need to fit a BNC connector to the antenna end of a cable that feeds my GPS. I have replaced the antenna but want to reuse the existing cable and the new antenna has a BNC connection at the base. I know I should replace the whole thing ideally, but it's a real faff routing the cable underneath the cockpit etc so before I do that I want to try using the existing one. I notice that the alternatives are crimp-on, screw-on and solder. My soldering skills are not that great and as the crimp tool can be had for a few quid, I am tempted to go that route. But how reliable would such a connection be? It will be inside the antenna mounting and well sealed.

 

[prv]

If it's properly made (ie using the tool rather than trying to bodge it with pliers etc) then it should be as reliable as anything else. Nearly all signal connectors on cables seem to be crimped on at the factory.

Pete

 

[lw395]

Crimp bnc plugs often still need the centre pin soldered.
It's the outer that's crimped.
Best check the destructions online before buying.

 

[Heckler]

Crimp bnc plugs often still need the centre pin soldered.
It's the outer that's crimped.
Best check the destructions online before buying.

I have the proper crimp tool, if you use one of these it wont need soldering. However cost me Mid £20s quite a few years ago!
S

 

[LadyInBed]

Nothing wrong with screw on either!
Especially if used inside.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-50andohm-twist-on-bnc-plug-jk21x
£2.39

 

[maby]

I have the proper crimp tool, if you use one of these it wont need soldering. However cost me Mid £20s quite a few years ago!
S

I think the issue is finding a BNC plug with a centre pin that is suitable for crimping - they are not widely stocked in the high street outlets like Maplins. In the standard plugs that are intended to have the pin soldered to the centre core of the coax, the pin slips into a close fitting hole in the insulator of the plug - even assuming that you had sufficient force available to crimp it, I suspect that the pin would no longer fit into the hole and it would not be possible to assemble the plug.

 

[nigelmercier]

Nothing wrong with screw on either!

I would avoid that at all costs, and not just because it comes from Maplin.

Soldering the pin is just about the easiest soldering job in the world, if the OP needs solder thin enough to fit the side hole, I can send some.

 

[LadyInBed]

I would avoid that at all costs, and not just because it comes from Maplin.
.

We are talking AIS use not VHF Tx.

 

[laika]

Is it definitely BNC or might it be TNC? Only asking because it was a mistake I made when re-connecting the GPS to my AIS after cutting the plug to route the cable. I'd never even heard of TNC until then...

 

[lw395]

We are talking AIS use not VHF Tx.

The OP said GPS?
Which is ten times the frequency of AIS, so having a good plug is more critical.

 

[David2452]

BNC plugs are old 10 base Ethernet, the proper crimp tools are available for bus fares as they were made in their millions, the small centre pin is far better crimped than soldered as was the case with 10 base Ethernet which was never soldered (primitive electrical connection, and now disallowed under many ISO standards) and the braid crimp is very good too. I do this regularly on class A AIS and it complies with all the current standards and PA requirements.

 

[LadyInBed]

The OP said GPS?
Which is ten times the frequency of AIS, so having a good plug is more critical.

My mistake, but IMO the same principle applies - no power so solid connection isn't that critical.
Higher frequncy, more skin effect so solid connection isn't that critical.