[TowerTalk] ...and another coax adapter question

[john simmons]

Not only have I been a ham for 53 years, I also spent 27 years in the commercial two-way business. I have literally installed thousands of connectors, including 1/2" and 7/8" Heliax connectors. Despite great care, I've had my share of defective connectors, either out of the gate or a later failure. Just because it is a "factory-installed" connector doesn't mean it is well-done nor failure-prone. Just pray the failed connector is easily accessible!

P.S. The easiest to install connector is a mini-UHF on RG-58.

73
-de "Curly" John NI0K
QRZ.com<https://www.qrz.com/db/ni0k>
Hamshack Hotline<https://hamshackhotline.com/> call me: 6100000271
On 11/26/2023 5:23 PM, amfone via TowerTalk wrote:

 I purchased two 125 foot long lengths of DXE RG8X, direct burial coax, this was two perhaps three years ago. The coax lays on the lawn, I pick it up to cut the grass, so I disconnect the cable weekly in the summer. I noted a high SWR on the 20 meter antenna and thought I had not tightened the Crimp on PL259 connector tight enough to the relay. Checked the antenna and all was fine. The next week the same problem occurred after reconnecting the coax to the relay, High SWR on the 20 meter antenna. I took out the antenna analyzer fed the antenna direct bypassing the relay, same problem high SWR. So the problem is at the antenna or with the cable. Before looking at the antenna I again checked the cable wiggling the DXE cable right at the crimp on connection, about three inches up from the connector, the SWR was very high or low, the crimp on was not  making proper ground to the cable, hence an intermittent connection. I did re-heat the center conductor and  re-solder it just in case but no effect. I don't have crimp on tools here and could not leave the connector on so I cut the crimp on off, put on a PL259,  re-soldered everything and brought in all my tools and chair. This occurred two weeks ago, its snowing here today.
Tim
WB8UHZ

    On Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 03:57:48 PM EST, john at kk9a.com<mailto:john at kk9a.com> <john at kk9a.com><mailto:john at kk9a.com> wrote:

 I wonder what issues that you have had with Amphenol connectors and with
which style?

My station uses various styles, N, UHF and 7-16DIN (plus BNC on RX cables).
I only purchase Amphenol or Andrew/Commscope coax connectors and they all
have been reliable.

John KK9A - W4AAA


Ron WV4P wrote:

Amphenol connectors are Banned at my station. They are Not what they used
to be...
100% of all Up the tower jumpers are DXE RG213 and DXE Crimp ons.

Ron, WV4P

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