088176

3C286 is one of only 5 gamma-ray detected CSS and spectroscopically classified as NLS1 galaxy. It is thus a good laboratory for studying the disk-jet connection. But our analysis of the previous few X-ray observations has raised a puzzle: a single unabsorbed powerlaw with index 2 well fits the data but is either inconsistent with the fact that 3C286 has a DLA with 2E+21 cm^-2 or with the jet model for its SED. Thus we propose for an observation to obtain for the first time ever a high S/N spectrum aiming at measuring the absorption and searching for the expected spectral break. Equally important safely confirming previous evidence for variability would question its radio-calibrator status if the variability can be traced back to the jet. [truncated! Please see actual data for full text]