> The one that I bought within the last two years had cheaper quality
> SO-239's on the outer box and a SO-239 on the control box that does not
> properly allow for a PL259 to be screwed-on. Since I have two other
> control boxes and could compare, the difference was obvious.
That was probably from the batch of bad connectors. A vendor
changed the parts without letting anyone know. They were not
"cheaper", they were the same price.
Sometimes stuff like that happens.
> > Then you almost certainly have loose connections or moisture in
> > the fitting or cable someplace.
> >
> Not in this case Tom. I replaced the cable (new) and the outside box (new
> one) and used with the (old) control box and the new control box. The old
> one had the noise (but allowed the pl259 to be screwed on properly). The
> new one had no noise but had the same audio in position 1 (WITHOUT AN
> ANTENNA on port 1) as in position 2 with the antenna. Seems pretty weird
> to me. The new box was bought from HRO in NH.
It is always POSSIBLE to have a problem in the switch, but it is
not very common. Virtually all of the switch problems are cable
related.
Other than cable (which is the vast majority of problems), the most
likely problems are soldering flux on the relay contacts, bad solder
joints, and bad RF chokes in that order.
> > NEVER mount the boxes upside down!!!! No matter how you seal
> > the box, it will eventually get water inside.
> >
> > The metal plate should ALWAYS be down, and there should
> > ALWAYS be some air-gap in the edge of the box for breathing.
>
> The outside box was mounted with the metal plate down pointing at the
> ground - to me that is upside down.
The manual says that is the right way! So that is "right-side-up".
The manual is very clear that the connectors must point down.
Occasionally someone mounts the unit upside-down despite
warnings, and it fills up with water!
73, Tom W8JI
W8JI@contesting.com
List Sponsor: Champion Radio Products - We'll be at the Dayton Hamvention
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