What is the deal with the 4 port switch boxes?

[holygrailvideogames.com]

Does anyone else have issues with the 4 port switch boxes. It seems like almost every 4 port system that I have has issues with the 4 port switch boxes. Often I have to twist the switch boxes until I hear a "click". Once I hear the click the system seems to work fine.

[A.J. Franzman]

Sounds like you're talking about twisting the RF plug in the jack to scrape through the surface corrosion. This is completely expected for a system that hasn't been used for a while. The only ways to avoid it would be to leave it plugged in all the time once you get a good connection (which is still not failure-proof), or to replace the jack and plug with gold plated ones.

[Atari5200]

no problems here. but I do have a back up just in case, but still running perfectly fine on #1.

[BigO]

I have a 4 port with what I believe to be a bad switchbox. Anybody know of any particularly common failures in those boxes that I can start checking?

[adrock750]

its always a good idea to have a few lying around.

[82atari5200]

There is a relay switch that sometime gets stuck. If you open it up it the big box in the center. I've had a couple where the resistor has burned out.