DIY patch cables, major signal loss - what gives??

[joel_ostrom]

I was making some patch cables to connect the pedals on my board with some low profile switchcraft input jacks and Canare GS-4. I tested two of them after they were finished and there was a significant signal loss.

It doesn't make sense, i used the same cable to make a different patch cable and there was no change in signal.

Could it be bad jacks?
Did I wreck the jacks somehow during the soldering process? Or the cable?

I was using a lot of heat on the soldering iron so that I could get the solder to adhere to the inside of the flat part of the jack (for grounding). Could this have done something to wreck the jack?

Anybody have any ideas?

[MGW]

if you get GS-4 too hot it'll develope an issue with shorting. At least that has been my experience as well as a friend of mine who runs a production house. Check the continuity between the tip and the sleeve. I quit using the stuff years ago. Started using Gotham Audio cable. Buy direct from the US distributor for about $.44/ft. They also have the low cap cable for about $.88/ft. Also...the Gotham shield isn't braided...lots easier to work with.

[Cantplay]

It could be the connectors you're using.

Many are just chrome plated zinc for the tip and barrel.

Does the resistance of the finished cable measure high?

John

[JerryFJA]

Sounds like maybe you didn't strip off the black material around the inner core.
Jerry

[Leo_Gnardo]

Sounds like maybe you didn't strip off the black material around the inner core.
Jerry

Could be - an often overlooked problem - thanks for mentioning it JerryFJA.

To expand on that - there's a black plastic inner layer on some coax & mic cable. The plastic is conductive & meant as another shield. If it contacts your signal connexions - there goes your signal. Must be trimmed back from signal connectors by about 1/8 inch or 3 mm, then you're OK.

Not likely you damaged your switchcraft connectors.