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Antenna weather proofing failure?

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beaker7

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Joined
Aug 26, 2016
Messages
178
Location
Boise, ID
Hey y'all I have a Motorola XTS 5000 and the antennas for these units have a little extra rubber to seal against the unit for weather proofing, but my antennas weather proofing has bent in a way that it looks like the weather proofing may be compromised. Is this true or is there a fix other than buying a new antenna?
 

IAmSixNine

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Feed Provider
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Dec 19, 2002
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2,443
Location
Dallas, TX
Buy a new antenna. They can and do wear out. Try to buy OEM and stay away from cheap nock offs.
For a good antenna plan to spend 15-30 dollars depending on which band you need.
 

Rred

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Joined
Nov 21, 2014
Messages
830
If you are removing and reinstalling any SMA-base antenna frequently, it isn't meant for that. Any seal will twist and wear, and the SMA threads themselves are easily cross-threaded and ruined. They're pretty much meant to be used once, for assembly, and left alone.

A very thin o-ring or thin butyl (non-hardening) tape can work as a perfectly good gasket seal. A light bead of E6000 ( a common "thin black rubber" type glue) will work if you're going to leave it attached. Craft stores sell "Puffy Paint" in little ounce bottles, which is a water-based plastic paint that bonds and seals well, but easily peels off when you want to remove it. And perhaps the simplest weatherproofing is a dab of silicon high dielectric "vacuum" grease. Inert electrically, but stops any water intrusion in any electrical fittings.

New antenna may be simplest, but there are so many simpler cheaper ways to ensure a good seal, available locally.
 
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