[Elecraft] Those dang PL259s [was: KPA 500]

[Alan - G4GNX]

With respect, why not change the subject line. :-)

As it so happens, I just had an SO239 failure today! As I was moving a 
cable near my HF vertical, I was suddenly presented with a cable end 
with a PL259 still plugged in to the SO239 which should have been in the 
antennas connector box. The center pin of the SO239 had a broken solder 
joint and the main cause of the failure was that the SO239 retaining nut 
had disintegrated in 3 places. The rest of the connector was still in 
good condition.

Before anyone comments - this has nothing to do with my possible KPA500 
problem, which occurs on a different antenna.

73,

Alan. G4GNX


------ Original Message ------
From: "Michael Walker" <va3mw at portcredit.net>
To: "Elecraft at mailman.qth.net" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: 10/04/2020 22:48:17
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA 500

>This is going to cause a big sh*t storm :) and about 900 emails before
>Wayne shuts it down.
>
>However, having been in RF for a bit less then most of you (only 1974), I
>have had connectors fail and not fail in my HF world (60Mhz or less).
>
>No Name ones have worked wonderfully for decades.  Amphenol's have failed
>in a year.   Amphenol T's in a phasing harness seem to fail the most (fell
>apart).  But, then, who knows who makes them.
>
>What I can say is that there is, based on my personal experience, no 100%
>guarantee on any particular one.
>
>Install it.  Visually inspect it.  Make sure it is clean, dry and
>waterproof and a year from now, if it is outside, open it up and make sure
>it is still dry.
>
>It isn't eve 'you get what you pay for' any more.
>
>Next, we can have another 200 emails on how to solder a PL259.  :)
>
>Mike va3mw
>
>