Congrats Sonar!
I was actually just thinking about that switch today, and wondering whether or not it worked for you.
glad to hear that it fit correctly.
hopefully it looks like the others for the most part.
Most likely your soldering iron just didn't have the 'oomph' to get those contacts hot enough to really melt the solder on.
as long as you couldn't pull the wires off, and the solder looks shiny, you should be ok.
feel free to give me a call if you want to talk through some antenna and coax tests once you get ready to do all that.
LC
Thanks my friend. As to the rocker switch it's exactly the same as the old one. Fits perfectly. Not only that I notice how much easier the new Switch operates as compared to the four other ones that are to my knowledge original to the amplifier. If I used the preamp, SSB/AM, or high low I might consider changing all of them. I do use the standby switch but it actually works smoother than the other three, and you know the old saying if it ain't broke don't fix it. Especially in my situation.
I have some ideas on the antenna and hope to get someone out in the backyard to take the antenna down and give it a look-see. There's three things I think the single-digit temperatures and snow might have done.
Number one. Is that the pl-259 might just be loose. This happened to me once before and although I don't recall whether it was winter or summer it did happen. I had someone take the antenna down and notice the pl-259 was at least four turns loose. It was loose enough to where it actually wiggled around before it was tightened.
Number two. Is the ice snow and cold temperatures may have gotten between the top section and middle section of the IMAX 2000, and actually caused one of the sections to loosen (I know I'm reaching on that one.)
Number three. Is that some moisture may have gotten into the coax through the pl-259.
For now I am off the air. I cannot and won't put this old equipment through the high SWR that it's currently showing. I will mention an odd thing that happened and was happening the last few times I tested it before I decided to disconnect the pl-259 from my wm1 and cover up the station.
This was happening on both stations. The sonar with the 350Z and the Madison with the 300 a
After warming everything up for a couple of minutes I would key the microphone. The SWR would start at 3 and then slowly drop down to approximately a 2 (while staying keyed.)
I also noticed on occasion the SWR would jump up and down erratically. I did use both WM 1's to make sure it wasn't the meter.
I did notice the last time the SWR jumped up and down erratically there was a slight breeze blowing. While that was happening I took a look-see at the IMAX 2000 and although it wasn't moving around too much the breeze was indeed causing the antenna to sway a bit.
I'm going to have someone take the antenna down, check to make sure the two sections of the antenna are tightly screwed together, and then I'm going to check the pl-259. I have this suspicious feeling that might pl-259 has once again loosened. I I have no doubt that the single-digit temps and 12 inches of snow that fell caused whatever the issue is. The last time I used the setup was about 3 weeks before that, and my SWR was a 1.2 where it always sits. The day of the storm I figured I wasn't going anywhere and thought it would be a great situation to get in some radio time. I actually purchased five new LMR 240 for foot jumpers. I was using a couple of LMR 400 and 3 240 jumpers. I didn't like that idea although I no it didn't have anything to do with the issue. It was just something I've been wanting to do for a while. Of course that changed nothing. Although I am happy to be using all of the same 240 jumpers. I do have a brand new unopened A99 in the garage. If it's not the coax I might just remove the IMAX and throw the a 99 up there. I purchased an insulator tester. I figured for 40 something dollars I might be able to use it in the future, but as soon as I receive it I will check the pl-259 on the outside at the antenna feed Point, and I will also check the one on the inside. If you're familiar with the lmr400 times microwave, there is a very nice strong looking heat shrunk piece of material (rubber?) that goes from the pl-259 to about 3 in down the coax. So if any moisture got in to the coax it had to make its way into the pl-259 itself. I'm just finding it hard to believe that moisture or water got in there, as there was none. There was only ice and snow falling. Unless my pl-259 was loose to begin with. As soon as I get some time I will have somebody take a stroll to the back yard and check it out with me. My antenna is very easy to take down without having to remove any of the masts. All that needs to be done is to remove the 8th cinder blocks from the non-penetrating roof mount, and then just tilt the whole thing down to the ground. I still haven't received the insulator tester yet but should have it any day now. If any of the swr and erratic ways it's been acting gives you any thought on what it might be I would appreciate your input. Thanks LC. I appreciate all your help. If I'm having a problem tracking down the issue I will drop you a line for sure.