[Elecraft] [KX3] Re: BNC connector oddity on KX3

[Walter Underwood]

The upgraded BNC is part KX3BNCMDKT, $49, listed on this page.

http://www.elecraft.com/order_form_parts.htm#kx3

wunder
K6WRU
Walter Underwood
CM87wj
http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)

> On Mar 8, 2018, at 11:23 AM, rich hurd WC3T rich at wc3t.us [KX3] <KX3-noreply at yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Okay, so I took the plunge and disconnected the KX3 to take with me on vacation.   Hooking it back up proved to be a tad problematic - SWRs of 25:1 and no signals from any bands, anywhere.  I'm now working through what options I have, starting with checking female connector deformation and doing what I can to examine oxidation, and general quarrantining of wires and connectors.   
> 
> I also wrote to Elecraft to get a quote for a replacement BNC connector with the LPF installed - worst case is I'll just start over again with a new chassis connector.
> 
> Ain't radio fun?   :)
> 
> On Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at 11:54 AM, rich hurd WC3T <rich at wc3t.us <mailto:rich at wc3t.us>> wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I had an oddity with hooking an antenna to the BNC connector on my KX3 that happened enough times to be chalked up to something other than random chance.    Looking for opinions on whether my solution aligned to your experience(s).
> 
> I have a complete station - a KX3, a PX3, and a KXPA100.   The KXPA100 is connected via a Cables On Demand connector with a PL259 on one end and a BNC connector on the other end.  All other interface cables are Elecraft standard.
> 
> This is NOT the first BNC connector that I've used.  Prior to this last acquisition I had a couple of other BNC to PL259 jumpers that I was using, and the usual smattering of connectors and adapters in the junque box..  
> 
> No matter which one I used, If I removed the BNC connector from the rig (maybe to go portable, for example, or the last time it was because I installed Eneloop Pro batteries to the internal battery holders) I would put everything back together, and then would have severe - almost debilitating - signal attenuation when I got the rig fired up.   If I twisted and spun the BNC connector on the jack, it would improve, and then get bad again more often than not.   It could take up to 20 minutes to get everything "dialed in" so that the signal was appearing again. God help me if I accidentally moved something after that.  And of course, while all this was happening the ATU was having fits, with 99:1 SWR readings and the amp was going offline; all kinds of weirdnesses.   After things calmed down. the ATU behaved itself, the amp stopped being pouty, and all was then good.
> 
> Thankfully, now that I have the Cables On Demand product, things seem to have quieted down - although I still don't disconnect without provocation.  :)   Though I'm desperately afraid of when I start to go mobile after the snow melts and the weather gets nice again.   :)    Hope I can get my IC706 fixed and back in service as my base station before that occurs.  
> 
> My question was going to be in desperation more than anything else if this last cable didn't work, but thankfully, that's been the only cable vendor that I trust for any of my specialized cables and they haven't failed me even with this one. 
> 
> Are BNC connectors that finicky?   Is it possible that I just had a bad batch of low quality jumpers?   I'm just wondering if anyone else has had excessive fiddling with their BNC connections.
> 
> ---
> 72,
> Rich Hurd / WC3T / DMR: 3142737  
> PA Army MARS, Northampton County RACES, EPA-ARRL Public Information Officer for Scouting
> Latitude: 40.761621 Longitude: -75.288988  (40°45.68' N 75°17.33' W) Grid: FN20is
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> 72,
> Rich Hurd / WC3T / DMR: 3142737  
> PA Army MARS, Northampton County RACES, EPA-ARRL Public Information Officer for Scouting
> Latitude: 40.761621 Longitude: -75.288988  (40°45.68' N 75°17.33' W) Grid: FN20is
> 
> 
> __._,_.___
> Posted by: rich hurd WC3T <rich at wc3t.us <mailto:rich at wc3t.us>> 
> Reply via web post <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/KX3/conversations/messages/63638;_ylc=X3oDMTJyMG50ZmR2BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzc0NTIwOTQ3BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MzEwOARtc2dJZAM2MzYzOARzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNycGx5BHN0aW1lAzE1MjA1MzcwODI-?act=reply&messageNum=63638>	•	Reply to sender  <mailto:rich at wc3t.us?subject=Re%3A%20BNC%20connector%20oddity%20on%20KX3>	•	Reply to group  <mailto:KX3 at yahoogroups.com?subject=Re%3A%20BNC%20connector%20oddity%20on%20KX3>	•	Start a New Topic <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/KX3/conversations/newtopic;_ylc=X3oDMTJmNWk4Z2s5BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzc0NTIwOTQ3BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MzEwOARzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNudHBjBHN0aW1lAzE1MjA1MzcwODI->	•	Messages in this topic <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/KX3/conversations/topics/63560;_ylc=X3oDMTM3aGRmYm05BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzc0NTIwOTQ3BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MzEwOARtc2dJZAM2MzYzOARzZWMDZnRyBHNsawN2dHBjBHN0aW1lAzE1MjA1MzcwODIEdHBjSWQDNjM1NjA-> (18)
>  Have you tried the highest rated email app?
>  <https://yho.com/1wwmgg>With 4.5 stars in iTunes, the Yahoo Mail app is the highest rated email app on the market. What are you waiting for? Now you can access all your inboxes (Gmail, Outlook, AOL and more) in one place. Never delete an email again with 1000GB of free cloud storage.
> VISIT YOUR GROUP <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/KX3/info;_ylc=X3oDMTJmajMyNWJ2BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzc0NTIwOTQ3BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MzEwOARzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAzE1MjA1MzcwODI-> New Members <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/KX3/members/all;_ylc=X3oDMTJncXYyOG92BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzc0NTIwOTQ3BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MzEwOARzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2bWJycwRzdGltZQMxNTIwNTM3MDgy> 6
>  <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo;_ylc=X3oDMTJlbGRzcjMwBF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkAzc0NTIwOTQ3BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MzEwOARzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNnZnAEc3RpbWUDMTUyMDUzNzA4Mg-->• Privacy <https://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/groups/details.html> • Unsubscribe <mailto:KX3-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe> • Terms of Use <https://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/>
> .
>  
> 
> __,_._,___