[TowerTalk] 20 meter stack problem

[Jim Brown]

On 2/2/2014 6:10 PM, Cqtestk4xs at aol.com wrote:
> Any ideas before I climb?    I plan to take my  trusty MFJ259 and a
> multimeter and check all connectors that I can  reach.

Hi Bill,

Several thoughts.

First, try to get a look at all the lines with an antenna analyzer that 
can do TDR. You'll see all the splices and connectors, and also the 
antenna. If you don't have experience looking at TDR measurments, try to 
borrow both the box and an operator who does. I now use the DG8SAQ unit, 
before that the Ten Tec box, and I know that the AIM units can do TDR.

Second -- are there any connectors or adapters other than real Amphenol? 
When I got back on the air in 2003 after nearly 20 years off, I had no 
stock of misc "stuff," and bought a bunch of coax adapters at hamfests. 
All the shiny new stuff was junk, and over several years, I can remember 
at least a half dozen specific events where these adapters either failed 
or went intermittent to cause me exactly the sort of things you're 
chasing now. I'm talking things like Tees, barrels, elbows, adapters 
from N to UHF, etc. My rule is nothing but Amphenol or the old (real) 
MIL-spec parts.

73, Jim K9YC