Why Your HF Antenna Doesn’t Care If It’s N or PL
In the world of HF radio (3–30 MHz), connector debates are like tuning wars—often heated, rarely relevant. Let’s settle this one:
There’s no real performance advantage to using N-type connectors over PL-259 (UHF) connectors on HF. None. At these frequencies, the differences that matter at VHF/UHF simply don’t come into play.
What the Data Says
- HF wavelengths are long—10 to 100 meters.
- Connector discontinuities at these scales are electrically invisible.
- A well-installed PL-259 handles full legal power with no measurable signal loss.
N connectors are not better for HF. But they’re also not worse. That’s the truth.
Where the Myth Came From
The myth of N superiority comes from their real-world benefits at VHF, UHF, and microwave—where impedance continuity and shielding matter more. Someone simply carried that idea down to HF without checking the physics.
What Does Matter
Here’s what should drive your connector choice:
- Sealing & weather resistance – N has the edge outdoors.
- Mechanical durability – N is tougher.
- Standardization – What’s used across your shack?
- Convenience – And that’s the practical point:
“I know there is no real advantage of N connectors in HF… I use it because it’s handy. All my patch panels are N for TX antennas and F for RX, all our jumpers are N…”
Standardizing on N across your system is a solid reason. It simplifies spares, troubleshooting, and patching. That’s not a myth—that’s good engineering practice.
Quick Comparison Table
| Factor | PL-259 (UHF) | N-Type |
|---|---|---|
| HF Performance | Excellent | Excellent |
| True 50 Ω Impedance | No | Yes |
| Outdoor Resistance | Needs tape | Sealed design |
| Mechanical Strength | Adequate | Robust |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Lab Consistency | Lower | Higher |
Bottom Line
Both work. Both perform. The real reason to choose one over the other? Simplicity, consistency, and what fits your workflow.
Stop obsessing over connectors. The RF doesn’t care.
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Written by Joeri Van Dooren, ON6URE – RF, electronics and software engineer, complex platform and antenna designer. Founder of RF.Guru. An expert in active and passive antennas, high-power RF transformers, and custom RF solutions, he has also engineered telecom and broadcast hardware, including set-top boxes, transcoders, and E1/T1 switchboards. His expertise spans high-power RF, embedded systems, digital signal processing, and complex software platforms, driving innovation in both amateur and professional communications industries.