[RFI] Weird RFI Episode

[Jack Ference]

Pete,

You must always “Frank” all PL-259 connectors using a small wrench to complete the physical and electrical connection.

 “Franking” PL-259 connectors is a W3LPL-ism mentioned at each and every Contest University presentation.

Jack, W3KX
Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 25, 2023, at 1:23 AM, NA6MB Mike <na6mb.mike at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Most likely the small movement you put in the connector when tightening it
> moved some oxide out of the way and removed a higher impedance spot
> 
> NA6MB
> 
> 
>> On Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 3:16 PM Pete Smith N4ZR <pete.n4zr at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> This morning I got up and went on the air in the CQWW RTTY Contest.
>> Everything had been fine yesterday, but as soon as I made my first
>> transmission, both of my monitors shut down.  Eventually, I found that
>> the cause was RFI - anything over about 40 watts and blooey (the
>> computer was fine).  Without a lot of excruciating detail, I think the
>> cause was a hand-tight PL-259 somewhere in my feedline out to my antenna
>> switch.  Initially it looked fjne, and then it started showing me high
>> SWRs on all bands.  I snugged them all down and it went away.
>> 
>> This is a first to me in some 40 years of playing radio and computers.
>> 
>> --
>> 73, Pete N4ZR
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