What you are describing sounds like something 'not right' with your antenna. If so, then the simple solution is to replace it, or, find out what isn't 'right'. There are three basic areas where there can be a problem, the connector, the feed line, and the antenna base. Those three areas are subject to 'shorts' and 'opens'.
The feed line usually isn't a problem unless there's some signs of deformity, it's been smashed, or it bulges, or if there's tape on it. There's not always a sign of some kind of damage, but usually there is.
As for the connector on the radio end, there are a couple of ways to check that, does it look abnormal, wiggles too much, does moving it make a difference, is it tightened all the way?
Something wrong inside the base of a mag-mount antenna is a bit harder to determine. You can't really tell unless you can get in there to look, which isn't the easiest thing to do. Does it look like someone may have looked in there before, or put it back together for some reason? Does it rattle, or make some kind of noise if you shake it? Does it look like it's taken damage of some sort, scratches, scrapes, been run-over?
And then if you have an ohm meter/multimeter, check things for shorts/open circuits. That's only a sign of a problem if you know exactly what kind'a antenna it is. Some antennas appear as a short circuit, some don't.
Can you try the antenna on someone else's radio/car?
- 'Doc
|
Linear Mode
