Is connector position important on POTY antennas?

[Basil]

I want to make another, or modify my existing POTY antenna to use an N type connector rather than the existing SMA. Is the location of the connector on the discs important please? Thanks.

[M5TXJ]

Not just important, CRITICAL I'd say.

73 Dave

[Basil]

Thanks, it's times like this 137kHz LF looks good again! I have found an Amphenol long body, right angle PCB mount N type jack that might squueze in to my set up, Digikey have them, so if I remove the SMA and solder up the 2 screw holes, drill the centre pin hole out a tad, and solder on the N type keeping the centre pin hole in the same place as the original SMA hole centre, I should be OK? Thanks a lot!
https://www.digikey.co.uk/en/products/d ... amphenolrf

[M5TXJ]

Yes that should be ok, you may need a spacer if any of the connector body protrudes into the gap between the plates, that's a definite no-no.

Edit; looking at the link, I think the centre pin will need extending as the body will need spacing to allow fitting the plug.

73 Dave

[g0mjw]

Gareth has a much better solution to that. Eliminate the connector on the POTY itself. Instead use a piece of semi-rigid or semi-flex, one end with a connector on it, the other end prepare the cable to solder it directly to the plates. This takes up a lot less space.

Mike

[Basil]

Gareth has a much better solution to that. Eliminate the connector on the POTY itself. Instead use a piece of semi-rigid or semi-flex, one end with a connector on it, the other end prepare the cable to solder it directly to the plates. This takes up a lot less space.

Mike

Thanks Mike (and Gareth...) I am liking that idea a lot. But what semi ridgid should I use to future proof my PA install for the day I hopefully get my full license and can run more than 50 W from this three semiconductor beast?

I would prefer to do it once and right, rather than have to furtle about with the POTY, cabling and sockets again. The PA has a 7/16 socket and I have plenty of LDF4-50 cable and N and 7/16 connectors for that coax, but I am not sure if soldering LDF4-50 direct to the POTY is feasible or desirable. Probably some transition from a short length of smaller semi ridgid to the LDF4-50 via a plug and socket??

Thanks!

[radiogareth]

I used a 'surplus' SMA to N-Type panel mount and just removed the SMA. With a temp '8' chisel bit in my 50W weller iron, I was able to solder the outer to the back disc and the inner similarly to the square element. I made a mount to attach the N-Type to one of the dish LNB support arms. My thinking was 'one connector less' and no adaptor as able to go directly to 4-500 feeder cable.
Mounting of the N-type will need to be dreamt up to suit your own dish. The larger photo shows what I had before, so I've lost one connector and reduced the small hard-line to 1/10 of the original length.
Gareth

POTY_ARM.jpg (248.24 KiB) Viewed 3968 times

[g0mjw]

The power should be OK if you use the right semi-rigid. The thicker stuff is not very flexible though. RG402 should handle 200W at 2.4 GHz but don't exceed the 1/2" minimum bend radius. RG405 it thinner but won't handle more than 50W.

Mike

[Basil]

Thanks, that does look neat and lower loss than 90 degree connectors!