cables, Cables, CABLES!!!

[rgorke]

So, I have built my own cables for many many years. However, I am having a horrible time with the latest I am trying to build. I am using either Switchcraft or Harcon plugs. When I test the cables I get a strong continuity beep from my DVM but when I plug it in, the gain is cut almost in half. I put in other cables, try different units, still the same.

Could the cable be bad? It is Mogami that is probably 4-5 years old. I am at a loss...and more than just signal loss. Do connectors go bad?

[rgorke]

Found the culprit. Using Switchcraft 380 (the short ones) plugs....the ground lug, while screwing the cover on, got pushed too close to the signal lug. Amazing how such. A minor thing can cause such problems.

[Coot Boy]

Did you not test for continuity between + and ground to see if there was a short with the DMM?

[rgorke]

Did you not test for continuity between + and ground to see if there was a short with the DMM?

That's what was driving me nuts. I was getting continuity but not the entire signal.

[Coot Boy]

All's well now then

[rgorke]

All's well now then

Yes, I think what happened is in stripping the internal wire of my Mogami cable, a couple/few of the strands got cut thereby some of the signal on one end goes no where.

All is well today!!!

[Xplorer]

but if some strands got cut ... these wires still had contact with the others all along the cable, so there's no reason that some of the signal would go nowhere.

[rgorke]

but if some strands got cut ... these wires still had contact with the others all along the cable, so there's no reason that some of the signal would go nowhere.

That is what I thought. All the high end went away. I have no logical explanation.

[Coot Boy]

Yeah, I would have thought you'd either have signal or not, 2013 could be a bad year