Interesting. I haven't messed with PL-259's in years, but I seem to recall the center pin always stuck out past the threaded part. But I could remember wrong.
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CB Gods hate me .... Ebay LMR 400 is no good?
- Thread starter niceguy71
- Start date
niceguy71
Active Member
I just posted some pictures on a reply someplace
I wish that picture showed how much of the threads stick up past the casing.. I think that maybe my issue
niceguy71
Active Member
your right... on my connectors, the pin is flush... my LMR400 the pin is flush.... my Tram 3500 the pin sticks out a little as does the RG8 so maybe it is the LMR400... I had started a return and cancelled it as everyone said if the dummy load and the ohm meter tests show it is ok.
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Maybe, maybe not. It may be a combination of the center pin being recessed and what looks like not enough threads on the sweep gear. So maybe a perfect storm.
smittie
Member
I always wonder how much I can trust the meter, whatever meter I happen to be using. So many things influence what the meter sees. Environmental, buildings, wires, electrical current. As well as the construction of the devices itself.
Especially when the reading is particularly good, that always makes me doubt the test device.
Especially when the reading is particularly good, that always makes me doubt the test device.
RFI-EMI-GUY
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I think your LMR cable has Type "N" connectors on each end which would explain why you are having all of these problems. You cannot mate PL259/SO239 with Type N male or female without an adaptor. Please post a picture of both ends of the LMR400 cable looking into the end of the connectors. I would be surprised if nothing is stripped or damaged....
RFI-EMI-GUY
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Type N male connector above^^^
PL259 connector above^^^^
niceguy71
Active Member
I'll do that later... the ends.... threads on PERFECTLY it just hits the plastic of the RigExpert before the sawtooth part of the SO239 can lock it in place... I have taken a barrel connector that fits on everything I own ( I don't own any N connectors.... ) and put it on the LMR400 then plugged that barrel connector onto my Tram 3500 and the SWR was good
niceguy71
Active Member
wow big difference!
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RFI-EMI-GUY
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Well it appears your LMR-400 has PL259 connectors. And that is good. However, they should not spin loosely when mated with an SO239 on the Rig Expert, the antenna, or the radio.
I think you have several issues at play. The threads on those connectors appear to start pretty far from the edge, the center pin sits back a little and the connector on the sweep gear seems to have very few threads. Combine all those and stuff isn't making good contact. Just my opinion though.
RFI-EMI-GUY
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There were some Japanese version PL259 connectors that did not follow the Amphenol design and reportedly were problematic when mating with radios. Who knows where these connectors were made, China maybe? His 90 degree adapter might make better contact.
They probably spin because they won't screw down far enough for the 2 peaks on the PL-259 to catch on the SO-239 valleys (whatever you call them).
niceguy71
Active Member
I think your right and why it's been so hard for a complete novice like me to figure out... good thing I have all you guys to help.
niceguy71
Active Member
most of my connectors don't fit tight on the RigExpert... but I push them on and hold them in place and it gives me a pretty good SWR... but that THICK HEAVY LMR400 I just couldn't make it do anything.... and now I think it is a combination... I will put the LMR400 onto the antenna again and see if I can rotate the cable.. if not then I think it's good and will play with the RigExpert and once I have two good connections I can see if the antenna is good... if it is I can put my antenna and mast up.... not sure what to do to fix the RigExpert... I could easily cut the plastic casing off the top of the RigExpert and that would allow the connector to screw all the way down... I don't see how the connector could move in the RigExpert??? it is attached to the board and attached to the plastic casing..... I'll look at it closely this weekend... as I said the top plastic casing when I have the RigExpert apart is easily pushed down closer to the board giving me a few extra threads.
niceguy71
Active Member
that's amazing!!! your right the bottom of the LMR 400 connectors have octagon shaped flat spots just like in your picture!!!!! ... BUT... I got these from hmmmm I was going to say Times Microwave who has the best stuff.... but I actually got it from E-bay and the E=bay seller could be using those connectors and buying the coax from Times Microwave... ( I hate E-bay... nothing buy cheap Chinese crap)... so I was thinking I got really great Times Microwave coax.... and the reason it was cheaper could be the ends........ and now that I look at the picture the thread housing is much shorter on the LMR400 barrel compared to the RG8 as in the attached picture.
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Replace those connectors and you will be good to go. I would ask the seller about them and if they lie negative feedback would be the thing to do.
niceguy71
Active Member
I think
lynnsnyder1968 has found the problem!
now... I want to move slowly... what is my next step???? should I return the LMR400... here is the link..... 1-125' TIMES ® LMR400UF Antenna Patch Coax Cable PL-259 UHF Male CB HAM RF LOT | eBay did I buy the wrong stuff???? is this my fault? it said it had pL259 ends so I thought that was what I needed?? I paid with taxes $113.08 and for that amount I'm not changing the ends.... let me know what you guys would do... thanks for all the advice. Steve
The octagon shaped flat spots are needed to assemble the connector and are not an issue. I’m not sure anything is “wrong” with those connectors, it’s just everything compounded.
I may have missed it, but does the LMR spin when connected to the antenna or just the sweep gear?
