[Lowfer] A noise source Found, and Fixed

[riese-k3djc at juno.com]

FYI
If you use PL259 for RG 8 cable ,, just spread the shield back over the
outer 
plastic sheath and then screw the connecter on twist it as far as it will
go
it should get VERY tight,, then just solder the center pin
makes for a good install,, use this up through 432 and never had a
problem
with power levels at 300 Watt
PL259s are good connecters if you get the well made ones not the China
ones fer a buck apiece at hamfests
although some of them are ok
lots of plastic tape and bathtub calk make the water proof

Bob K3DJC


On Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:01:01 -0700 (PDT) Andy - KU4XR <ku4xr at yahoo.com>
writes:
> This one has gotten by me for no telling how long.. The PL-259 on
> the antenna coax !! It has been 5 years or longer since I soldered 
> it onto the coax. Lots of moving around, bending, twisting and such
> over the years. I found 2 problems with it.. The center wire had
> come loose from the solder joint inside the center pin of the 
> connector. It was one of those " couldn't really notice it " deals, 
> 
> and, the shield had corroded somewhat and wasn't making a solid
> connection. Staying on the noise ridden low bands all the time, the
> noise that it was causing wasn't catchable to the ear. But, I was 
> trying out WSPR on 10 meters the other day, and that's when I 
> discovered the bad connector end. I moved the watt meter a little,
> and at the same time, heard this horrible crackling sound in the 
> speaker.. I wondered what it was, so I " jiggled " the watt meter
> and the radio went crazy. When I found that it was the antenna coax
> making the noise; I started inspecting the PL-259.. Nothing appeared 
> 
> to be wrong with it, but everytime I inserted it into the jack, and
> " wiggled " the coax, the crackling static was there. I soon found
> by moving the coax back, and forth inside the connector that I 
> could
> barely see the wire moving inside the solder..Since re-soldering 
> the
> connector, the noise has dropped 1 S-unit, and my SWR is now back 
> on
> the peg where it use to be. 160 meters is the quietest that I have
> heard it, and just a very quick listen on 600 meters shows the same
> reduction in noise level.. And unless the band conditions are just
> exceptionally good tonite; my WSPR transmissions on 160 meters are
> being received slightly better by the usual stations ( better SNR 
> ),
> Actually, after comparing some past numbers to tonite, the SNR is
> around 7 dB better on all the stations receiving me.. Interesting
> what a bad connector can cause...
> 
> 73 all:
> 
> 
> Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN. USA
> 
> LOWfer Beacon " XR " 
>  
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> 
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