4x4 Action Group

Setting up my 29MHz radio ( already have VHF)
Ive learnt that plugs onto the coaxial cable
need be carefully and properly attached ...

soldering increases the resistance
of the internal core wire and is not advised...

needs to be crimped using a neat fitting ferrule
thats tightly crimped with approp pliers
6 sided crimp and the casing mesh of wires
must extend over and onto the plug
to protect/mask out interference etc.

My logic would have said otherwise. Lead is very conductive. Soldering would lead to a much larger contact area than crimping. Meaning less resistance.

But I could be completely wrong

...I don't fully know or understand the reason why a good crimp better is than solder - which is why I didn't go into that !
( but I was told this by people who would know )
...I suspect its to do with the effects of heat tempering / changing the conductivity & properties of the metals in the core wire ...

Will wait for a sparky guy to give us his opinion!

I think the issue is that copper is more conductive than lead (about 14x more). Thus, relying on lead to be the conductor is not Ideal.

Having said that, the components on the PCB inside the radio are generally soldered (lead) and there's no real appreciable loss in function of the circuit.

In the high end car audio world, guys twist wires together only, no solder. In theory I guess that it is the ideal solution, but long term oxidation in the joint is ultimately worse than a bit of solder.

I wouldn't worry about it. Solder the cable core to the plug pin. It will be fine. The steel plug pin is even less conductive than the lead

Thank you 4G..... the walking off-road Encylopedia

Yes conductivity esp of cu vs pb is probably key .

... signal from radio waves down aerial
may be small/faint and susceptible to further/suboptimal resistance ?

Coaxial plugs for 2-way radios generally facilitate the core cable going - right through - the plug ... I guess to a female receptor (?) so no main conductance path via steel ‘stem ’

I also think most people crimp better than they solder so maybe installation relevant.

For aero-industry crimping is standard procedure vs soldering ...
... think about it next time you up there ... !

Crimped lugs and ferrule are used in the electrical industry in high current applications. They can withstand heat better than soldered terminations.
In case of heat generated by high currents or loose and hot connections you will have soldered terminations fail.

Also crimp joints can handle vibration better the very reason why crimp joint are used on aircraft.