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Off the scale SWR reading.
18 January 2025 | by 
Faulty connector
Two years ago I made a 1:1 isolation choke with some RG316 coax and wrapped it around an FT240-31 core. At one end of the RG316, it was fitted with a proper mini UHF to PL 239 connector. At the other end after wrapping the RG316 coax around the FT240-31 core, I soldered a regular PL-259 connector....Kinda Gerry rigged it. Today I installed a new monitor arm for the monitor that displays my Icom 7610 screen and while mounting this arm I had to move some wires and connectors at the back of the radio. Everything was done I wanted to ensure the monitor was working correctly and displaying my Icom 7610 display. While doing that I bumped my keyer and noticed my SWR went off the scale! I tried it again with the same results.
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| Opposite end. |
Well really the only thing that changed was the monitor arm BUT I did move some cables behind the radio including this 1:1 choke. I jiggled the coax at the Gerry-rigged PL-259 end and then all of a sudden the SWR was normal again. It seems I found the problem and moving it around and getting a good SWR is NOT a fix! I removed it from service. Later in the day I did some testing, seems the braid is faulting. When my meter (on ohms scale) is connected to the PL-259 shell at either end and I wiggle the suspect end the continuity is off and on. Am I going to fix it.....NO.....to be honest I should never have tried this in the first place but I did. Lesson learned and at least I caused no damage to my radio and it was very fast to remove the 1:1 isolation choke. Now I have a spare FT 240-31 choke in the event I need it.
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