Maxtrac question?

Dispatcher85 · Post by **Dispatcher85** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 6:44 pm

I need to know the antenna connector that goes from the radio into Pl 259 antenna cable? Can anyone help?

kmartin · Post by **kmartin** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 7:18 pm

If your looking for an adapter cable: HKN9557A. It is about 8" long, mini-UHF male on one end and UHF female on the other.

EKLB · Post by **EKLB** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 4:28 am

Otherwise Radio Shack has them .

Called a Mini UHF to 239 adaptor and its all metal other than the inside insulator and about 1.5 inches long.

EKLB

RRrobby · Post by **RRrobby** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 6:05 am

Most any electronic supply house or radio shop has them. Ask for a Male Mini PL to SO239. They run about $3.00 ea-RRRobby

RESCUE161 · Post by **RESCUE161** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 9:58 am

Please do yourself a favor and just buy a crimping tool and the mini-uhf connectors.

Those adapters put a hell of a lot of strain on the radio.

Once you break the radios connector, you'll understand.

If you are going to use an adapter of sorts, please use the correct mini-uhf going into coax and then into an SO-239.

An inch and a half (mini-uhf to SO-239 adapter) of metal added to the radio is just asking for trouble.

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:40 am

I agree with that! I bought one of those mini uhf to SO-239 adapters for one of mine. Didn't like how it fit, kinda loose, and it also adds weight to the connector. Probably ok if you mount the radio in a console with it positioned straight up and down, but with the radio at an angle it could put some force on the connector.

tvsjr · Post by **tvsjr** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 2:09 pm

RESCUE161 wrote:Please do yourself a favor and just buy a crimping tool and the mini-uhf connectors.

Those adapters put a hell of a lot of strain on the radio.

Once you break the radios connector, you'll understand.

If you are going to use an adapter of sorts, please use the correct mini-uhf going into coax and then into an SO-239.

An inch and a half (mini-uhf to SO-239 adapter) of metal added to the radio is just asking for trouble.

Amen. And it's a :o trying to fix it when you loosen the connector from the chassis and destroy the coax on the back side.

Good, racheting crimpers and jaws are under $100 these days. If you can afford Motorola radios, you can afford a real crimper.

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 2:38 pm

I second the fact that the adaptor puts way too much strain on the radio's RF jack, not good. and yes I have changed way too many of them due to "adaptors" distroying them.

And one other item, the adaptor (mini UHF male to SO239) is NOT 50 ohms. That kinda spoils the match at UHF.

Best is a good quality Mini UHF male to coax and a female type N. Oh, and be sure to use GOOD coax, not the radshakk stuff!!

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 5:19 pm

You could always have someone put a mini-uhf connector on the coax for the antenna you plan on using.

If nothing else, take a short piece of coax to a local dealer or other installer and have them put a mini-uhf on one end with their crimper and take it home and install whatever you want on the other end.

At least then you don't have to buy the tools to do it and it gets put on correctly by someone who has most likely done dozens if not hundreds of them.

Post by **wavetar** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 10:01 am

Will wrote:I second the fact that the adaptor puts way too much strain on the radio's RF jack, not good. and yes I have changed way too many of them due to "adaptors" distroying them.

And one other item, the adaptor (mini UHF male to SO239) is NOT 50 ohms. That kinda spoils the match at UHF.

Best is a good quality Mini UHF male to coax and a female type N. Oh, and be sure to use GOOD coax, not the radshakk stuff!!

Amen to all of that, I couldn't agree more. The flexible 8" HKN9557 cables from Motorola are ok for VHF/UHF, but they are very lossy at 800/900MHz. So, we generally make our own the same as Will described.

Todd

Maxtrac question?

Maxtrac question?

Ant connector