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Topic: What is this thing? |
Ernie Pollock
From:
Mt Savage, Md USA
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Posted 12 Oct 2009 8:27 am |
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I don't really know where this came from, I am sure it was in a guitar [steel] case on a trade in. I was just looking at it the other day, shaking my head & trying to figure out what the heck is this thing?? I will see if I can get a picture on here, not a good one, but someone in electronics might be able to tell what its for. There is one little screw down inside that square little box like thing attached to the other end, I took it out, but the box does not come apart??
I don't have a thing here that would use that type of cable end. Sure would like to figure this out!!
Can you help!!
Ernie  |
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Roger Crawford
From:
Griffin, GA USA
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Posted 12 Oct 2009 8:30 am
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| That cable end looks like the coax cable connectors used on radio equipment. The big picture is too fuzzy to make out. |
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John McGuire
From:
Swansea,Illinois, USA
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Posted 12 Oct 2009 8:33 am
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| Looks to me like a coax connector for a 2 way radio antenna. The box could be the antenna base.Hard to tell from the pic. |
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Blake Hawkins
From:
Florida
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Posted 12 Oct 2009 10:24 am
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Put your ohmmeter on it and measure between
the center contact and the shield.
If it reads 50 ohms, then it is a dummy antenna
for a CB Radio.
The plug is a PL-259.
If it reads open, then it may be, as John said,
part of an antenna. |
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Ed Phipps
From:
Chino Valley, AZ
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Posted 12 Oct 2009 11:07 am
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Hi Ernie,
Roger and John are completely correct. The connector shown is called a PL-259 used for connections on coaxial cable.
This type connector has been around as far back as WW-2 and maybe longer.
It was commonly used in low power (2 kW or less) communications equipment, common in the 3 to 160 MHz range. Because it mechanical strength, it is favored in portable and mobile communication use where vibration is present.
The one shown, is a later model, (approximately since the 1980's) with the white Teflon insulating material surrounding the center pin.
Hundreds of millions of these have been used in communication equipment during the last 60+ years.
The model shown has some type screw in reducer where the cable goes into the connector. The original plug was designed for 1/2 inch cable in the RG 8U category.
The cable shown is shielded coaxial cable but not great for music work as the capacitance per foot is greater than shielded microphone cable. It would work but with a slight loss of highs if nothing else were available.
I have no idea what is the function of black box.
All the best,
Ed |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 12 Oct 2009 11:16 am
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There was a super secret antenna design published in a major CB radio publication in the 1960's. The publication date was April 1st and the antenna was called "the black box". It guaranteed a 1:1 SWR over the entire 11 meter (CB) band. A lot of people built these (enclosed is a 52 ohm resistor) and got really angry when their SWR meter gave a perfect match but the radiated power was near zero (the resistor is just small in terms of wavelength for one thing and not very reactive).
I have no idea if this is one of those. Just an idea. I sya open the blakc box or meter it!
Greg |
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Michael T. Hermsmeyer
From:
Branson, Missouri, USA
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Posted 12 Oct 2009 9:44 pm
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Hahaha!!! I believe you have one part of the two part "Faux cell phone" CB antenna. Back when cell phones were being installed in cars they had that small dainty antenna with the squiggly in the middle. Well some CB dude thought it would be neat for CBers to have an antenna that looked like one of these cell phone antennas.
The connector plugged into the back of your cb and the "box" was mounted on the inside of your back window with double sided adhesive tape. The squiggly antenna was mounted on the outside of the glass window adjacent to the box. This may have worked for cell antennas but it sucked for cb's.
Please don't ask me how I know. Now what do I win, LOL!!!
_________________
Currently retired from performing music in Branson, MO
'73 EMMONS D10 FATBACK, '92 EMMONS D10 LASHLEY LEGRANDE, Bray Resonator Guitar,'95 DOBRO F60S, '85 Dobro 60DS, '95 MELOBAR CUSTOM, 1948 National Grand Console D-8, 1951 Supro Clipper S-6. EVANS, FENDER, PEAVEY,
and MESA BOOGIE Amps...
www.onemancountryshow.com
www.facebook.com/utilityman2000 |
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Tommy R. Butler
From:
Nashville, Tennessee
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Posted 12 Oct 2009 9:47 pm
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| Looks like 1/2 a thru the glass CB antenna, like the old stick on thru the glass cellular phone antennas ?? |
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Clete Ritta
From:
San Antonio, Texas
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Posted 12 Oct 2009 9:55 pm
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| Michael T. Hermsmeyer wrote: |
| Hahaha!!! I believe you have one part of the two part "Faux cell phone" CB antenna. |
I noticed there are many steel players here, who are also CB radio operators and/or pilots!
Hmmm. What is it!? I believe Michael may have the correct answer.
Though the black box looks like a pickup (almost, if you squint your eyes).
Clete |
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Ernie Pollock
From:
Mt Savage, Md USA
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Posted 13 Oct 2009 7:54 am Thanks!!
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Thanks guys, I had no idea what that was, looks like it'll hit the garbage heap this week. I have no use for something like that, but decided to see if it was worth anything, looks like its not!!
Ernie  |
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