PL-259 Connector

Overview

The PL-259, mating with the SO-239 socket, is the connector most often found on HF equipment. It is a UHF-series connector, which is a historical name rather than an accurate description — it is not a constant-impedance design and its performance degrades above about 300 MHz.

That does not matter much on the HF bands, where its electrical shortcomings are negligible and its mechanical robustness is a real advantage. What matters far more is the quality of the installation. A poorly soldered PL-259 with a whisker of braid touching the centre pin will cause more problems than any connector design ever could.

Bands and modes

Band coverage

Modes

Safety note

Using it well

• Trim the braid cleanly so no strand can touch the centre pin.
• Flow solder into the centre pin, not onto the outside of it.
• Check continuity from centre pin to centre pin after assembly.
• Weatherproof the joint with self-amalgamating tape for any outdoor connection.