Name the antenna connector!

[photoguy2]

Can anyone tell me what type of antenna connector this is? It looks like maybe a tnc?

Thanks

Matt
KJ6PNN

 

[FFPM571]

TNC

 

[photoguy2]

TNC

Thats what I was thinking. Thanks.

Matt
KJ6PNN

 

[jcato16]

Looks like Mini-UHF to me. I could be wrong though.
Mini-UHF Connectors - Amphenol Connex

 

[W8RMH]

That's a TNC.

The Mini-UHF has an open area around the pin,

where the TNC has a plastic sleeve.

 

[jcato16]

oops..... I stand corrected

 

[AK9R]

A little history...

TNC = Threaded Neill-Concelman connector
BNC = Bayonet Neill-Concelman connector

Both were developed by Paul Neill of Bell Labs (who had previously developed the N connector) and Carl Concelman of Amphenol (who had previously developed the C connector),

 

[jhooten]

They come in 50 and 75 ohm versions. The two do not mate.

 

[prcguy]

Judging by the male and female TNC connector and digital cammo background the jumper cable in the first post would be used as an antenna extension cable for a military MBITR or PRC-152 hadheld where the radio would sit on the soldiers chest and the antenna is remoted high on a vest or pack.
prcguy

 

[photoguy2]

Judging by the male and female TNC connector and digital cammo background the jumper cable in the first post would be used as an antenna extension cable for a military MBITR or PRC-152 hadheld where the radio would sit on the soldiers chest and the antenna is remoted high on a vest or pack.
prcguy

Dang, you guessed;-) That is the cable for a PRC-152 antenna. I just was not sure what type of connector it was. The picture of the cable connector was better then that of the actual antenna.

TNC it is.

Thanks guys. And thanks W9BU for the history.

Matt
KJ6PNN

 

[prcguy]

Do you have a 152?
prcguy

Dang, you guessed;-) That is the cable for a PRC-152 antenna. I just was not sure what type of connector it was. The picture of the cable connector was better then that of the actual antenna.

TNC it is.

Thanks guys. And thanks W9BU for the history.

Matt
KJ6PNN

 

[photoguy2]

Do you have a 152?
prcguy

In my dreams I do. ;-)

I'm just thinking of using the antenna for a project of mine. I hike/backpack a lot. All of the longer HAM high-gain antennas I have tried have broken within a few hikes. I though I would try one of the wide-band 152 antennas. I figure if they are tough enough for SF, they are tough enough for me. I already use Sabers, because they are so much tougher. One or two trips to the heat/sand of Death Valley and the snow of Glacier Park seem to do the HAM radios in.

Matt
KJ6PNN

 

[prcguy]

Before TCI marketed the MAST, which is a remote antenna kit for the MBITR and others, I built and tested basically the same thing including field strength comparisons between a stock MBITR and one with a remote antenna high on a tactical vest and on a backpack.

I found the remote antenna with a 1/4 wave dangling counterpoise for VHF/UHF or a 1m long dangling wire for the 30-90MHz band really perked up the performance over the radio with stock antenna. I also made a choke balun at the antenna base by wrapping a few turns of coax around a #43 mix toroid core.

The stock rubber whips for the MBITR and PRC-152 are not as efficient as a similar size but tuned whip, so unless you need the very wide BW stick to a tuned whip. I shipped several prototypes made with both RG-58 and RG-316 Teflon coax to guys in Afghanistan and got great feedback, then TCI released their version about a month later. TCI is making good money on theirs but mine still works better.
prcguy

In my dreams I do. ;-)

I'm just thinking of using the antenna for a project of mine. I hike/backpack a lot. All of the longer HAM high-gain antennas I have tried have broken within a few hikes. I though I would try one of the wide-band 152 antennas. I figure if they are tough enough for SF, they are tough enough for me. I already use Sabers, because they are so much tougher. One or two trips to the heat/sand of Death Valley and the snow of Glacier Park seem to do the HAM radios in.

Matt
KJ6PNN

 

[photoguy2]

Ah, I see.

Thanks for the ideas, you have me thinking ;-)

I do use a homemade MAST, like yours, it's just a piece of teflon RG-58, a molle buckle, and quite a bit of duct tape.

Two reasons. First. I do need the wide band. In particular, I would like to have both 2 meters, and GMRS (460) in one antenna. I use a dual brander HT when things are easy going, and swap out sabers when things are rough. Hence the wide band. I have (and do) use a tuned antenna with a tail (Smiley) and it works great. The reason for the 152 antenna, is that I can feed it through the molle on my pack (Unlike the smiley, or any dual band antenna I have come across) and it will take a beating.(again, unlike any dual band whip I have found).

Thanks
Matt
KJ6PNN

 

[mancow]

The mbitr rubber whip seemed to exhibit peak resonance around 200mhz when I swept one but was still pretty good in the vhf fed range.

 

[photoguy2]

The mbitr rubber whip seemed to exhibit peak resonance around 200mhz when I swept one but was still pretty good in the vhf fed range.

How did it do around 440 and 460? Or did you test up there.

Matt
KJ6PNN

 

[JMC0302]

Because of forum rules denying me PM ability, how would one go about building a system like this specifically for the PRC-152? Also what materials are required?

 

[prcguy]

First decide on what type of coax you want. Typically they use RG-58 but I've made them from very small RG-316 Teflon coax which is about half the diameter of RG-58 and has a native coyote brown color and blends well with desert cammo, multicam, etc.

Then you would want a good quality, preferably flat black TNC male right angle connector for the radio end and a straight female TNC connector for the antenna end. Measure the needed cable length by running the coax or other wire through your kit, then install connectors and I like two layers (and two different lengths) of hot glue heat shrink tubing as connector to cable strain reliefs.

Then you need a way to attach the antenna end to you kit and I've had good success with Rip-Tie Velcro cable wraps. Besides the cable, connectors and heat shrink you need the proper crimpers for the connectors and a way to thoroughly test the cable while thrashing the connections if its going to be used in a life or death application. The heat shrink on the connectors shown in the pic at the start of this thread is not very good and that will lead to early connector/cable failure on a body worn antenna system.
prcguy

Because of forum rules denying me PM ability, how would one go about building a system like this specifically for the PRC-152? Also what materials are required?

 

[JMC0302]

How did you go about the testing? I'm infantry by trade and not a commo. Also what did this run you cost wise? I'm looking to make a few for my platoon and another buddy's.