[Kenwood] TS-180S Mystery

[Rob Stampfli]

Actually, I rather suspect the opposite, since Oscar has already
tested for a short and found none.  (I presume this means he does
not employ a balun, since this should show up as a DC short.)  But,
consider this: If the point where the center conductor of the coax
attaches to the antenna (at the other end of the coax) opens up,
then the feedline itself will serve as a random-length wire antenna
against ground as long as it is only partially inserted.  But, once
the outer sheath makes contact, the inner conductor then becomes
shielded and it no longer functions as an antenna.  The fact that
two antennas behave identically is a bit strange, but I'd want to
find out what is going on at the other end of the coax.

Rob

On Fri, May 21, 2010 at 02:15:55PM -0700, Kenneth G. Gordon wrote:
> What you have described is completely normal.
> 
> Either your coax connector or the coax itself is shorted.
> 
> Ken Gordon W7EKB
> 
> 
> On 21 May 2010 at 13:16, Oscar Quintanilla wrote:
> 
> > Here is a mystery for your weekend.
> > My TS-180S got powered up after the winter and seems to have developed a 
> > strange anomaly.
> > 
> > When the center conductor of the antenna feed is connected to the 
> > connector on the rear of the radio everything seems to be fine; the 
> > receiver is very sensitive and loud.
> > However; when the ground or outer conductor of the PL259 connector is 
> > contacted, the receiver goes numb.
> > 
> > I measured the antenna for a short but found none. I then connected a 
> > separate antenna and found the same effect.
> > I have not attempted transmitting of course and have checked all other 
> > possible settings.
> > 
> > Any ideas are appreciated.
> > 
> > Oscar
> > KF6YB