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I was helping a friend put up an antenna today. We used a rather old but very stout coax RG-58, similar to Bury-Flex, 50 Ohm. Of course, we put UHF connectors on the ends. Here's the question: When connecting to the transceiver, the lead touched the hole and we hear what you'd expect to hear, but as soon as the ground on the connector touches the ground on the rig, it goes almost dead. Does this mean there is a short in the coax, perhaps a defect in the connectors (a short or bad solder job) or a bad cable? |
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Robert, the problem you seem to have is a short between the center conductor and the shield, When using a UG-175 Reducer and the PL-259 UHF Connector the coaxial cable shield is folded back over the reducer and the PL-259 is threaded down over it, sometimes one of the fine wires of the coaxial cable shield will short to the center conductor. Take a multimeter measurement in the Ohms or Continuity position that may give you an audible sound when the multimeter leads are shorted together, and measure between the center pin of the PL-259 and the outer covering of the connector and it should read open (no sound). If it reads short (audible sound) then you are going to have to disassemble the connector and start again. Always due a short check after assembling a coaxial cable before using it. Best Regards K4RFE Larry, RF Engineer Retired |
