[R-390] Poor Man's J104 Balanced antenna connector

[Craig Heaton]

After the first R-390/A followed me home, connecting a sig-gen or antenna
became an issue. Thank goodness for the web. Chuck Rippel's (sp?) website
had a good solution. A homemade bracket, SO-239 connector, a little wire,
etc; and a person could lash-up their favorite PL-259 and get started. I
think someone here on the list has saved Chuck's site and the info is still
available?

A short drive to "The People's Republic of Eugene, OR" takes me to one of
the last mom & pop electronic stores left. Here I found a cheap temporary
solution, twinax connectors. Mom & Pop put a price on them years ago and
never raised the price per inflation, etc.  Those little pins in the twinax
connector fit J104 perfect. 

On the cheap, solder one pin to the center conductor of RG58. With the
braided shield fit as many strands as possible into the other pin & solder.
The rest of the shield/braid is soldered to a small spade lug. Center
conductor goes to the right hand side of J104, pin with braid to the other
side of J104, lug to Phillips screw under J104. The other end of the RG58
can go to antenna, TX/RX relay, etc. 

Since the price was right at the time, I made one up with just a short
length of RG58 with a female BNC connector, used at the time for the lash-up
to a sig-gen. 

Better than nothing? On the cheap is not sturdy, bend the center conductor &
pin several times, it will break. The gasoline to Mom & Pop's store was more
than the twinax connectors. YMMV

Craig,