Might I introduce....the Helicron!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicro...
In my experience one might say that about most PL259 types, nasty bit of kit, particularly the cheaper examples. Shame manufactures still use it, especially on UHF equipment.
It looks drastic, but sometimes the only solution is to chop the PCB in order to remove all the conductive material. Its lucky the PCB is single layer, a useful advantage to working on older equipment. Still nicely done, and It's got the transceiver working again which is definitely a result.
Can just smell that lovely crispy PCB. Repairing that kind of damage is never going to be particularly pretty, but sometimes one has to make do to get the thing working.
Sad thing is that's what would probably happen if the film became reality.
There's the problem then. Everyone knows that as soon as one puts a project in a box the darn thing stops working😇
I know it can be looked upon as a bit old-fashioned, but to me at least, I find older kit just has a charm modern kit last lacks. Just remember to lift from one's legs when lifting though when moving it around the shack!
Very true, but spare a thought or two for the poor camera crew that had to film him doing it!
Not a bad idea to replace the antenna and coax with a dummy load as well as changing the port as that should help narrow the fault down a bit.
I remember watching the series and in one show they actually showed how the crew filmed up a tall chimney. Scary is rather an understement, for me at least a definite hell no situation!