A great radio and antenna will not perform well if the feed line is faulty. Moisture, pinched cable or loose PL-259 connections can create intermittent receive performance and SWR problems.
Start with a visual inspection
- Disconnect power and inspect the full accessible coax run.
- Look for damage at doors, tight bends and places cable rubs against metal.
- Check connectors for loose pins, corrosion and moisture.
- Inspect waterproofing and drip loops on outdoor installations.
Electrical testing
With the radio and antenna disconnected, a technician can check for shorted center conductor to shield and conductor continuity using an appropriate meter. If the antenna includes a DC-grounded design, the results must be interpreted correctly. A simple DC test does not guarantee good performance at 27 MHz.
When to replace rather than repair
Water-saturated coax and severely corroded fittings are typically better replaced. Select 50-ohm coax with the correct connectors, route it with adequate bend radius, and retest the complete antenna system afterward.
Read our coax selection guide and SWR troubleshooting checklist.