I used to have many coax cables with factory installed type N connectors. Virtually all of them have sooner or later suffered from the center conductor pins either retracting or extending outward over time. Once the pin moves far enough either in or out, the connector will no longer mate. I have been able to temporarily rehabilitate some cables with the retraction failure by pulling on the center pin with vise grips. If they overextend, there is no way AFAIK to fix them besides replacing the connectors. Evidentally, none of these cables used connectors with a captivated center conductor. I have seen this in coiled up coax, coax hanging from a tower, and coax just laying on the ground. Coax used/stored only indoors seems to be immune from this problem.
I would be interested in hearing from other people who have observed this problem. Am I somehow doing something wrong to cause this? Rick N6RK _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector