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Things that happens when an eBay Shark meets a Fishman!

Prologue

Some time ago a friend of mine involved in my hobbym Ham Radio bought on eBay some Amphenol connectors.
His intention was to make a short patch between a power amplifier and a power meter. He build a patch using 2 of these connectors and 3 feet of a very good quality RG214U coax cable.
When he used the patch he burns his PA filling with smoke and sparkles his ham radio shack. My friend call me to try to know what happened and why.

After a short inspection I noted the strange connector he used. The connector inner insulator was totally burn, the inner core of the coax was in short contact whit the shield of the coax.

I say to my friend "Old man you destroy 5000$ of equipments cause you use a piece of rubbish as connector" my friend cryed "what F..k you say this is an Amphenol PL." Oh My I use Amphenol PL connectors since 1972, when I was 8 years old and my Dad, that was a radio technician, teach me how soldered the first one to a RG214X coax cable. Since then thousands passed between my hands and no one fault.
Aphenol PL connectors are a myth for ham radio operators and for professional too, even after 40 years or more they works as when manufactured. These kind of RF connector was invented in the 1930’s by an Amphenol engineer, E. Clark Quackenbush, for use in the radio industry. After about than 80 years this piece of art is almost the same and is very widely used. All the HF radio equipment use this connector as standard. HF radio are in many cases the only way of communication as in case of natural disaster and in all the situation where normal communication are not usable. (When other else fail HF radio works and save lives)

As always happens in this word many tried to clone this connectors. Today top quality PL connectors ar made only by Amphenol, in the past high quality PL was made by Radiall, RF-Indusries ans Suhner. All these top quality connectors are very expansive price between 3$ and 12$ each. non branded connectors are very cheap few cents of $ each for large quantity. If the reliability of communication is a must, if you use Hi power (respecting legal limit), if you dislike that your precious radio equipment blow in a cloud of smoke, you have no choice, you must use only brand connectors i.e. Ampenol.

Today lot of peoples without technical skill use these connectors, having no skill, they can only trust on name, on branded connectors. In many cases these people are trying to save lives, in other cases they free time using expansive equipment hoping to help someone in danger. This idea force me to became a Fishman catching a shark. the big fish that eat all he can reach with his jaws, no matter if it is edible of not. My shark is nanike5001 the eBay seller that sell a connectors to a friend of mine this summer during his last trip in US.

Chapter 1 "Know the fish you wanna catch!"

As a scroupolous fishman (I read all that Fravia wrote) I start studing the Fish: Who he is, where he lives, what habits he has, in wich way he interact with habitat. One hour of search on the net was enouhgt for this fish. A full read of all the feedback he has on eBay (his virtual habitat) with a complete analisys of the items he sell and buy gave me enought to make me start fishing with confidence.
only two things noticeable:
first one) The fish have a lot of positive feedback over 99.9 wit more than 4000 feedback. Hmm a question arises, I'm in wrong the fish is not a shark? My be my friend was victim of a mistake, my friend is a good ham Op, but his technical skill is low, today if you have bucks you can buy all you need or all that you think you need, so when my friend bought the connector from nanike5001 He was very happy the price was low and the conns. was delivered quickly so he gave a positive feedback to the seller and newer ask him noting, even after is equipment smokes. Ok I decided to give more than a chance to the fish. "I'll caught you, but I will not put you out of water, so you can try to escape.". Almost all the sell was below 20$ and as we all know "if I must start a question every time someone stole me few bucks i'll spent all my life questioning." on eBay this is an accepted rule, you need a lot of time to start and to terminate a deal, 20 bucks stay well within a calculated risk. All says "I spent more to reach a post office to send back the item", paypal need a trackable shipping method to applicate a refound, and this cost much much more than the item.
second one) the fish belive that he his smarter than the other, he has agreat ego and as all with ego bigger than brain, is hyperreactive, if you touch him he'll react istantly. If someone gave a feedback less then positive he react strongly, shouting out imperative sentences building a wall between him and the poor boy that osate to make noise. Tipical shark behavior, he is at the top of the food pyramid, but only in his water.

1 october 2008 A mail reach me the fish ask me time, I have a lot, story in freezer till sunday 5 october 2008

2 october 2008 Update the fish as usual finally react lets take some wire on the winch, BTW fishing is not a game, is a SPORT, story go on next chapter tomorrow 3 october 2008

Chapter 1 "The Fishing match begins"

Every fish need the right bait, the worm this fish likes is green so let hang some bucks to the hook.

From: Utente di eBay: gabtis
To: nanike@..........
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 11:31 AM
Subject: You've received a question about your eBay item, PL 259 REAL AMPHENOL BRAND # 83-ISP-1056 SOLD SEPERATLY
Dear nanike5001,

hi, please what is the shipping cost to Italy lots of 12, 24 etc...
thank you in advance
regards, gabriele


the fish loking at the bait, become in hurry, no time for greetings no courtesy
As much as I can fit in a big envelope is the same price
Priority Mail® International Flat-Rate Envelope 6 - 10 Days $11.95

Dear reader, be smarter than the shark anyone can check shipping cost, in august USPS flat rate was below 8$, 30% of shipping cost goes in shark's poket, a shark is a shark is in his nature, this is the reason we catch him. Was the first of august when with click on "Pay Now" button and a dozen of item was ordered, 17,88$ plus 11,95$ a total of 29,83$ to be in the match not bad.
I'm not first time fishman, I feel I must give same explanation. Yes I'm quite sure the shark send me rubbish, you my say "why don't you minimize loss ?" Well, my goal is to catch the fish and to put him out of water forever, so I plan to send two connectors to Amphenol RF in USA, two to Amphenol in Italy (I live here, and unlike many others here I trust Italian justice), four connector will be destroyed during my quality tests, two connectors will reach the "Museum of Counterfeit" incidentally, the biggest in the world is within 10 Miles from my home, at The University of Salerno, where I gots my degrees, (This shark will be famous) the other two will remain in my shack (Ham radio station) as proof of the catch so a dozen is enough.
After a week of sun and sea, good red wine spent sailing across the bautiful gulf of Salerno, and many glass of vodka martini in honour of ORC+ in north direction (this is another story) the 9 of august small parcel was delivered at the house of my lawyer, me and two friends go there to open the parcel, we bring a digital cam to make a video of the opening. Arghhhh, no counterfeit connector in the parcel only a dozen of low quality unbranded PL-259 connector- BTW these was of low quality, but was also sure better than the connector that destroy a couple of Eimac 8877. in the parcel I found also a "nice" million dollar banknote and a so called "antenna booster (for all phones)" very useful sure will use it on my top band loop, and a letter. Hmm, again I tought, my be I'm wrong this man seems honest, he not behave as a shark. Ok, give him a chance.

Date: 08/09/2008 12.58
To nanike@XXXXXXXXXXXX

hi, mike
I just received the items, I'm very surprised the auction was for REAL amphenol brand 83-1SP-1056, the item received have nothing to do with amphenol ad less with 83-1SP that you send me are poor quality unbranded pl-259 tipe. I waith for you thought on matter, then I'll use Dispute console to segnalate a fraud. My feedback will be negative. I'll waith your answer, mistakes happens your feedback says you are a good eBayer , and my feedack are all positive my reputation is clear.
best regards, gabriele

BTW 83-1SP-1056 is a nonexistent Amphenol part number, Amphenol made only 83-1SP, 83-1SP-1050, 83-1SP-15RFX and 83-822 UHF solder type plugs. The shark try to put you in the fog of dubt. If you search for datashet, caracteristic or specification you'll find nothing.

meanwhile look at the photos..

Please note, my desk is normally clean the debris, small brown parts, are from insulator if the connector fall down, even few inches are enought, the connector lost part of the insulator , sure the seller think this is a feature Hi!!.

A is a counterfeit connector B is a genuine one searche the differences

Particular of a a forged connector

Particular of a a genuine connector

a forged connector

Particular of a a forged connector

a genuine one

on the left a forged connector on the right a genuine one look at differnces

on the left a forged connector on the right a genuine one look at differnces

group photo of genuine connectors

group photo of forged connectors

Sunday 5 october 2008 next chapter "The catch begins.."

Photos, documents, emails exchange video documenting the two parcel he sent to me will follow..

Bye for now Michael have a nice day. Yes the shark is named Michael.
best regards Gabriele.