Ever have one of ~those~ days? That lasted longer than a month? I've been going through that with the VHF radio in the car.
I've had a radio in the car that's almost 10 years old and the display has sort of dimmed. I dealt with it long enough so bought a new radio (good excuse, huh?). Nice display, bright, and the radio has one or two features that I like (can computer program it, as in too lazy to put all the freqs in it).
things worked just dandy for about a week and sort of deteriorated. Figured it was one of the local repeaters, I mean, the radio is new, right? Started asking the repeater maintainer about it, he didn't seem to think anything was wrong particularly, but would look into it. Nothing got better. So, decided it was probably the antenna (wish I'd gotten another one when I got the radio). So, tried a new antenna. Also tried another antenna, same band, already on the car, was better for a little bit but then got as 'bad' as the other one, and the new antenna was just as bad. Okay, new radio, new antenna, it's gotta be the @#$ feed line. So, changed it. I really hate that under the headliner stuff! Figured while I'm at it, might as well put a new connector on it (Amphenol). Ooo, look'it that! It's better. After I re-did the connector, naturally, I never get things right the first time. Another week or so and things went to pot again. What the @#$$'s going one!? Crap! Only thing I haven't messed with it the @#$ mount, so changed it. No difference. This has been going on for almost a month, I've run out of things to check/change. Put up with it for a few days, gotta be that @#$ repeater, right? Almost put the old radio back in to see what happened. It had better NOT be the new radio, I will be very upset! Mentioned all this to another ham in town. We tried a few radio checks from different places. If I was in sight of his antenna, no problem. Over a small hill and nothing. @#$!! Figured I was just too close to the trees to see the forest, so asked him to take a look. Did. Found the stinking problem. It was the Amphenol connectors (on two antennas) that was the trouble, both were shorted. Couldn't believe it. I checked the @#$ things! So, took them off, put them back on. Still shorted. Can't see any obvious reasons for that, no 'extra' traces of solder, whatever. Do you know how far you can throw a connector if you're mad enough? All he had was a Radio Shack 'no solder/no crimp' connector. What the hell, put it on... dam, it works. Ain't that the pits?
It's now well after dark, both of us missed supper. I went home. Next day, went to the 'Shack, bought all two of their remaining 'no solder/no crimp' connectors. Gave one back to my friend, put the other on that other antenna. I take back a little bit of what I think about Radio Shack stuff. At this point I still ain't buying from them unless I have to, but sometimes...
Just another one of those days... fertilizer! (cuz you ain't supposed to say SHIT!)
- 'Doc
I've had a radio in the car that's almost 10 years old and the display has sort of dimmed. I dealt with it long enough so bought a new radio (good excuse, huh?). Nice display, bright, and the radio has one or two features that I like (can computer program it, as in too lazy to put all the freqs in it).
things worked just dandy for about a week and sort of deteriorated. Figured it was one of the local repeaters, I mean, the radio is new, right? Started asking the repeater maintainer about it, he didn't seem to think anything was wrong particularly, but would look into it. Nothing got better. So, decided it was probably the antenna (wish I'd gotten another one when I got the radio). So, tried a new antenna. Also tried another antenna, same band, already on the car, was better for a little bit but then got as 'bad' as the other one, and the new antenna was just as bad. Okay, new radio, new antenna, it's gotta be the @#$ feed line. So, changed it. I really hate that under the headliner stuff! Figured while I'm at it, might as well put a new connector on it (Amphenol). Ooo, look'it that! It's better. After I re-did the connector, naturally, I never get things right the first time. Another week or so and things went to pot again. What the @#$$'s going one!? Crap! Only thing I haven't messed with it the @#$ mount, so changed it. No difference. This has been going on for almost a month, I've run out of things to check/change. Put up with it for a few days, gotta be that @#$ repeater, right? Almost put the old radio back in to see what happened. It had better NOT be the new radio, I will be very upset! Mentioned all this to another ham in town. We tried a few radio checks from different places. If I was in sight of his antenna, no problem. Over a small hill and nothing. @#$!! Figured I was just too close to the trees to see the forest, so asked him to take a look. Did. Found the stinking problem. It was the Amphenol connectors (on two antennas) that was the trouble, both were shorted. Couldn't believe it. I checked the @#$ things! So, took them off, put them back on. Still shorted. Can't see any obvious reasons for that, no 'extra' traces of solder, whatever. Do you know how far you can throw a connector if you're mad enough? All he had was a Radio Shack 'no solder/no crimp' connector. What the hell, put it on... dam, it works. Ain't that the pits?
It's now well after dark, both of us missed supper. I went home. Next day, went to the 'Shack, bought all two of their remaining 'no solder/no crimp' connectors. Gave one back to my friend, put the other on that other antenna. I take back a little bit of what I think about Radio Shack stuff. At this point I still ain't buying from them unless I have to, but sometimes...
Just another one of those days... fertilizer! (cuz you ain't supposed to say SHIT!)
- 'Doc
