TS440S.9 From: KD2EJ@N2EYR To: ALL@ALLUSA Subject: 440S ANT. CONNECTOR If you have a Kenwood TS-440S with a threaded antenna connector held in place by a nut, you'll probably have problems with the connector becoming loose, and when that happens and you attempt to remove the coax from the conector, the connector will rotate, and the small cable that is connected internally will either become loose or break off. The result of that will be low or no output. It is also possible that the output will be intermittent. The solution to this problem is not simply tightening the nut that holds the connector to the chassi. The solution is to remove that connector, and replace it with a standard PL-239 with a square base with 4 screw holes. In order to mount this to the 440S, you will have to file the hole on the rig slightly. Don't be afraid the chassi material is soft and easy to file with a small roun d file. Once this is done you can them position the PL-239 and drill 2 small holes in order to attach the connector to the chassi with 2 screws. There is no need to use all 4 screws. Simply solder the small wire that comes from the board right by the antenna connector to the PL-239 and you're finished. I actually removed the small circuit board right under the antenna connector and replaced the very thin wire that is soldered to the antenna connector. I used the inner conductor of a piece of RG-8 solid center coax, and then soldered this new wire to the PL-239 connector. You will never have a problem again with the antenna connect or becoming loose. * MAKE SURE THAT THE METAL SHAVINGS PRODUCED BY FILING AND DRILLING OF THE HOL ES ON THE CHASSI DO NOT FALL INSIDE THE RIG. PLACE THE RIG SO THAT THE SHAVINGS FALL ON TO THE WORK TABLE. NOTE: NOT ALL TS-440S COME WITH THE ROUND ANTENNA CONNECTOR. I BELIEVE THE EARLIER MODELS DID. THE LATEST MODEL COMES WITH THE PL-239 CONNECTOR INSTALLED. Winston KD2EJ