Faulty connector
Two years ago I made a 1:1 isolation choke with some RG316 coax and wrapped it around an FT240-31 core. At one end of the RG316, it was fitted with a proper mini UHF to PL 239 connector. At the other end after wrapping the RG316 coax around the FT240-31 core, I soldered a regular PL-259 connector....Kinda Gerry rigged it. Today I installed a new monitor arm for the monitor that displays my Icom 7610 screen and while mounting this arm I had to move some wires and connectors at the back of the radio. Everything was done I wanted to ensure the monitor was working correctly and displaying my Icom 7610 display. While doing that I bumped my keyer and noticed my SWR went off the scale! I tried it again with the same results.
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| Opposite end. |
Well really the only thing that changed was the monitor arm BUT I did move some cables behind the radio including this 1:1 choke. I jiggled the coax at the Gerry-rigged PL-259 end and then all of a sudden the SWR was normal again. It seems I found the problem and moving it around and getting a good SWR is NOT a fix! I removed it from service. Later in the day I did some testing, seems the braid is faulting. When my meter (on ohms scale) is connected to the PL-259 shell at either end and I wiggle the suspect end the continuity is off and on. Am I going to fix it.....NO.....to be honest I should never have tried this in the first place but I did. Lesson learned and at least I caused no damage to my radio and it was very fast to remove the 1:1 isolation choke. Now I have a spare FT 240-31 choke in the event I need it.
2 comments:
I remember I had this many times. So I now always solder the braid to the connector at the backside. Never had a failing connection since. 73, Bas
Good morning Bas and nice to hear from you. In this case the braid was soldered to the outer shell but it was the wrong size connector for the coax. I put some rubber splicing tape around the base of the coax as it enter the connector hoping this would stop any twisting or tugging. I have not taken the connector apart yet but when I do I will have a better idea of the issue.
73 and have a good week.
Mike
VE9KK
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