BNC Antenna Advice

[rcillig]

So I bought a nice I was told new in the box never used Whistler 1065 from someone off FB Market Place Estate Sale via PayPal so I can recoup my cash if needed but anyways on to the issue. It arrived and I got her programmed and went to use her and when I hooked the antenna up I noticed the BNC for the antenna is really wobbly, so but she still worked just fine. So I decided to find out why it was loose. After taking it apart and finding out someone had spun the BNC connector around to where the nut inside was loose and so I tried to tighten it up, but I can only get it so tight before it strips out and is loose again. Now everything is still soldered and working so I really don't want to dive into replacing the BNC or taking it off to rethread it if I don't have too. My question is do you guys think if I got it as tight as I can then but something like nail polish, epoxy, superglue of it, that it would hold? Any idea or advice would be awesome.

Thanks
Rob

 

[KB4MSZ]

I would leave off any of the stuff you mentioned. Those won't hold over time and could cause connection problems eventually. If the connector is holding it's own well enough then let it be. If it has a continuous problem with loosening then it needs to be replaced. That's my opinion on it.

 

[slicerwizard]

I'd snug it up and put a blob of hot glue on both parts to discourage loosening.

 

[TailGator911]

I would just adjust until it is snug and leave it alone. Adding any gunk or liquid to it might be detrimental to performance or, at least, messy when you have to change antennas. Just sayin.

JD
kf4anc

 

[rcillig]

thanks, guys ya tired to doing nothing and with just the cable weight pulls it out. going to try the hot glue, that is a good idea and if it doesn't work it will come right off with little to no mess. I'm not really confident on soldering on the circuit board as there is a tin housing around it that would have to be removed before I could fix it. If it was just the BNC connector I would be right on replacing it.

 

[rcillig]

here are a few photos of it, could I just solder it to the case to keep it tight? The tin housing would have to be removed to replace the BNC connector and I'm sure id fudge it up.

 

[TailGator911]

I use Gorilla Superglue, holds fast and quick to metal, plastic, wood, etc. Just a tad bit at contact points if you have to glue it.

 

[KB4MSZ]

Please replace it.

 

[slicerwizard]

thanks, guys ya tired to doing nothing and with just the cable weight pulls it out. going to try the hot glue, that is a good idea and if it doesn't work it will come right off with little to no mess.

Exactly. Hot glue on metal is completely reversible.

 

[jaspence]

You need a cable made with RG174 to connect to your main coax. The 174 will put very little strain on the connector. I use this method anytime I connect a scanner or HT to regular coax.

 

[cmdrwill]

The nut on the BNC connector has backed off, and you may be able to tighten it from the inside with a screwdriver on the nut.

 

[Ubbe]

I tried to tighten it up, but I can only get it so tight before it strips out and is loose again.

The nut on the BNC connector has backed off, and you may be able to tighten it from the inside with a screwdriver on the nut.

That didn't work as the threads where shoot.

/Ubbe

 

[rcillig]

ok so the glue didn't work, does not get a good signal, guess I got to remove and replace it. I'm not very confident in soldering on the board and that is due to I'm not sure how to remove the silver tin cover so I can gain access to the BNC connections.

 

[KB4MSZ]

Here's my guess on the metal shielding. It likely has tabs in several places along the bottom which project through the circuit board, and then are twisted from the other side to secure it. Worse case would be that the tabs are also soldered to the other side of the board. Hopefully just twisted.

 

[rcillig]

There is a tin box on the other side also. Ill get a few pics up posted here is a bit just got home from work.

 

[foxtail]

Looking at the pic in the middle, to me that may be a ring with a tab on it.
Not a nut that you think it is. Could be completely missing?

 

[foxtail]

Warranty? If not, take it apart yourself taking pictures as you go. Maybe check youtube...

 

[Ubbe]

You see in the third picture that the nut have come loose and are resting on the jumper from the connector to the circuit board.

/Ubbe