Featured: DX Engineering DXE-PL259-6 PL-259 Connectors (6 pack) at DX Engineering.
This is an affiliate link: Hood's Finds may earn a commission from DX Engineering at no extra cost to you. We have not tested this product; the specifics below come from the product listing.
A lot of amplifier trouble turns out to be a jumper. A cold solder joint, a connector that never fit the cable, or a stray braid strand touching the center pin can produce SWR problems, intermittent output and heat in the wrong places. Building your own jumpers is a basic skill for amplifier work, and it starts with a connector that suits the cable. The DX Engineering DXE-PL259-6 is a six-pack of solder-type PL-259 connectors aimed at that job.
What these connectors are
DX Engineering lists the DXE-PL259-6 as a PL-259, UHF male connector made of silver plated brass with a PTFE dielectric, solder type, sold as a pack of 6. Despite the "UHF" name, which is a long-standing label for this connector family, PL-259 connectors are the everyday connector on HF and CB equipment.
- Silver-plated brass gives good conductivity and takes solder well, which matters when you are making a solid joint to the shield.
- PTFE dielectric holds its shape under soldering heat far better than cheaper plastics that can soften and let the center pin shift.
Which cable they fit, and which they do not
The listing says these connectors fit RG-213, RG-8U, RG-8X/LMR240 and other standard 0.405 in. single-braid shield coaxial cables intended for soldering. For RG-58 or 8X size cables, DX Engineering notes that DXE-UG175S or DXE-UG176S coaxial reducers are required.
The important exception: they are not for 400MAX or LMR-400 double-shield cables. The listing explains that double shield cables with one foil and one braid should not be soldered to the braid, and should be terminated with crimp shield or clamp shield style connectors instead. Choosing the right connector for the cable type is not a detail. It is the difference between a jumper that works and one that causes the very problems you are trying to find.
Good habits when building a jumper
- Measure and strip carefully. Nicked center conductors and stray braid strands are common causes of shorts.
- Get the joint hot enough, then stop. A cold joint is unreliable, but overheating can damage the cable insulation. A temperature-controlled iron with enough heat capacity makes this much easier.
- Test before you trust it. Use a multimeter to confirm continuity on the center conductor and on the shield, and confirm there is no connection between center and shield.
- Check it under power, gently. Put the finished jumper in line with a wattmeter and a dummy load, and watch for SWR that should not be there.
A current part
If you are looking at older part numbers, note that the single DXE-PL259 is listed as not available, while the DXE-PL259-6 pack is the current version.
And as always when amplifiers come up: external linear amplifiers are not legal for use on CB radio. Well-made jumpers belong in every station, but they are especially important in licensed amateur stations running power within their limits.
Where to get it
Check current price and availability: DX Engineering DXE-PL259-6 PL-259 Connectors (6 pack) at DX Engineering.
This is an affiliate link: Hood's Finds may earn a commission from DX Engineering at no extra cost to you. More picks on the gear page.
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