[Elecraft] KAT-500 + KPA-500 / SWR Thresholds

[Jim Brown]

On 1/1/2024 8:33 PM, Jeff Wandling wrote:
> TL;DR; Situation is resolved.  Bad RF due to crap elbow connector and
> lack of diligence in ferrite application on AUX serial cabling.

Thanks for posting. Two points. First, NEVER use JUNK connectors, 
defined as anything that isn't stamped Amphenol, or with MIL-spec 
numbers. All that stuff sold at ham flea markets is designed for CBers.

When I got back on the air in 2003 after 25 years, I didn't realize that 
all this junk had come on the scene, so stocked up with all sorts of 
adapters, Tees, elbows, barrels. Over the next five years, they caused 
me all sorts of problems that were difficult to find. Those elbows have 
nothing but a tiny spring inside, that melts with power. I've had Tees 
and adapters fall apart.

Second, needing ferrites on interconnect cables is often the result of 
failure to do proper bonding in the shack, and/or omitting a serious 
transmitting choke at the feedpoint of every antenna, and/or omitting 
radials for end fed antennas that need them.

Guidelines for transmitting chokes and for grounding and bonding are on 
my website, k9yc.com/publish.htm

73, Jim K9YC