In message , Arny Krueger 
 writes
>"Don Pearce"  wrote in message
>news:4a4d5e3f.1586142328@localhost
>> On Wed, 1 Jul 2009 08:51:44 -0400, "Arny Krueger"
>>  wrote:
>
>>> The lowly F connector uses the center conductor and
>>> insulation of the cable being terminated, and comes in
>>> forms that mimic the ID of the cable being terminated.
>>> Probably the best of the bunch at HF with two caveats:
>>>
>>> The first caveat is that you have to be careful when
>>> mating F connectors because the center pin is none too
>>> strong. OTOH, if you use RG6 with an 18 gauge copperbond
>>> center conductor, the center pin is pretty stiff, being
>>> mostly steel.
>
>>> The second caveat is that I've observed a tendency for
>>> coax center conductors to shift and pull back into the
>>> cable from time to time, in which case the center *pin*
>>> can get short enough to no longer mate reliably.
>>> Actually, I'm not sure if the center conductor goes in
>>> or that the outer part of the cable lengthens.
>>> Retermination seems to provide a reliable fix, as most
>>> of the shifting happens a few weeks after installation.
>
>> The best I can say for the F type is that it is cheap. It
>> is ok on a satellite receiver where you plug it in once
>> and forget it, but if you are reaching round the back of
>> a rack trying to find the socket by touch, the centre pin
>> (ok wire) won't last two minutes.
>
>The F connector is not designed for patch bays or configurations that change
>very often.
>
>> Then you need a real connector.
>
>It is a real connector, just not one that is designed for live sound or
>recording.
>
>If you have F connectors and you need to change the connections a lot, you
>just get some adaptors from F to BNC and do your changes in BNC land.  They
>have a reasonable cost and are readily available.
>
>Comparing F to phono shows a lack of real world experience with the two,
>because for one thing, they have vastly different purposes.
>

For repeated connections to equipment with F connectors, use "Quick F" 
connectors. For example:

<http://www.onevisionltd.co.uk/digital-products/connectors/quick-f-connec
tors>

However, they do have a limited lifetime. Invariably, after considerable 
use, the outer gets somewhat splayed, and requires some gentle 
restorative TLC, or consignment to the waste bin (recycled brass, of 
course). But, at 63p, who cares?
-- 
Ian