StationMaster Repair

[KC2JS]

We have a brand new StationMaster antenna with a female N connector. Someone screwed a pl259 connector into the N connector and broke the inside connection of the N connector. Does anyone know if this can be repaired? Our dealer said it can not.

Thanks for any help!

 

[majoco]

I take it that "Someone" did it after you bought it brand new. IMHO you're stuck with it. I looked at a N socket and tried to fit a 259 onto it - "someone' must have used a lot of force as I can't get the threads to engage.

 

[fineshot1]

We have a brand new StationMaster antenna with a female N connector. Someone screwed a pl259 connector into the N connector and broke the inside connection of the N connector. Does anyone know if this can be repaired? Our dealer said it can not.

Thanks for any help!

Hope this helps - there is a section in this pdf from n2ckh that details how to take
one apart and repair it.

http://www.qsl.net/n2mo/newsletter/3QUARTER03/bullsheet.PDF

EDIT: Here is another good article with pics

http://www.srgclub.org/CollinearAnt-Repair-SMaster.html

 

[kb0nly]

I looked at them and fixed them many times, and that connector is part of the lower piece, machined into it as far as i know, not just a connector installed into it, so i agree with the dealer.

Save some grief and forget it and get something else in my opinion. Still don't see how someone could have done that though.

 

[davidgcet]

more likely is that someone installed an N connector cockeyed and broke the pins, a PL would dang near have to driven on with a hammer!

 

[zz0468]

more likely is that someone installed an N connector cockeyed and broke the pins, a PL would dang near have to driven on with a hammer!

Nope. The PL259 and the N connector have the same thread. The N female center pin is fragile enough that, when some clod comes along and threads the two together, they'll thread together - after the center pin has been destroyed. I've seen it more than once.

To the OP, forget the dealer. Contact the factory directly. They won't do it for free, but it might be worth the cost of repair. I am aware of people doing field repairs on Station Masters, but I don't have any details for you other than it's been done.

 

[gewecke]

I've never done a stationmaster,but I have done a diamond antenna that had the so-239 ripped out of the bottom. It was mounted to a mast with hose clamps without a drip loop and a high wind and corrosion caused the clamps to break.
Anyway a guy wanted it fixed and the only way was to cut 3/4 " of the bottom sleeve and solder the center conductor thru a 1/4" hole in the sleeve,then epoxy the so-239 back in to the bottom. I won't do this again!
It still worked the last I knew with no increase in swr.

n9zas

 

[davidgcet]

the threads ain't the problem, it is the length of the center pin on a PL that stops the threads even touching. so you have to break the N center pin before the threads even touch. unless the N was installed incorrectly, but i doubt that on a chassis mount!

as they say, you can't make anything foolproof as they will always build a bigger fool.