[Elecraft] KX3 RF connector

[Dominic Baines]

Yes I know the RF to RF board or ATU connector doesn't turn (much!) as 
the chassis hole is keyed but after about 2 years use attaching and 
disconnecting bnc there must have been some movement as on EU037 Garpen 
as SM7/M1KTA/P over the w/e I was getting odd  RF drop outs/ vswr all 
over the place etc (using #1082). Now I travel with a spare KX3 for DX 
and contest so swapped out the KX3 (spare #2334) and carried on (RSGB 
IOTA contest) after contest had a look and put it down to the RF lead... 
the repeat use of connections that apply even a slight rotation to the 
radio had fractured the lead from the centre pin of the BNC to the 
flying lead. Visibly it looked fine but the only thing that was keeping 
it in place was the little bit of black shrink wrap. At first thought 
was the BNC centre pin but it wasn't as worked fine with the other 
radio. Cut the shrink wrap back a bit and the lead had separated from 
the socket at the place where the solder started, it literally fell out 
..... culprit found.

Now back home I'll remake the RF connector. Using a piece of RG316 or 
RG174 with a little strain relief loop. Yes the space is tight!

My #1082 is about 2 years old and it has seen a lot of use/abuse I will 
admit.

Anyone else had a similar issue?

72

Dom
M1KTA