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APX APX 7000 Antenna

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northstarfire0693

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Does anyone know if there have been any issues with the antennas for the APX7000 VHF/7-800 GPS not receiving. I have that issue where my radio was having trouble picking up VHF P25 trunking and conventional analog. I swapped antennas with a standard VHF that I use with one of my other radios and the problem went away. I don't know if it was a radio issue or antenna. Both antennas are Moto ones and not some Ebay knock off brand.
 

vagrant

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I swapped the Moto antenna on my 7000 to a Diamond antenna and the GPS did not work. No problem with TX/RX analog or P25, but no go on the GPS even when outdoors.
 

northstarfire0693

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For some reason my TX/RX on most analog and P25 trunk was very degraded with the moto antenna. I don't use GPS so not to worried about that. The VHF moto antenna off my other radio fixed the problem. Are the APX antennas junk or something with my radio
 

vagrant

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I misunderstood your question on my first response. Perhaps that particular antenna had issues during manufacturing, or developed a problem during use after. Things happen. You noted your radio works fine on VHF using the other antenna, so I do not believe the radio to be the issue.

The antenna labeling you noted is the correct one for that radio, so maybe that antenna is just wonky. An inexpensive VNA to sweep the suspect antenna will cost as much for a new VHF/7-800 GPS antenna.
 

northstarfire0693

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The radio is new (old stock). Im thinking its an antenna issue. I put the suspect antenna on one of my old radios (XTS) and that radio had the same issues as the APX. I have not had the APX on a tuner, but Im leaning on a bad antenna. I could be wrong.
 

trentbob

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Interesting problem, haven't really heard it that much and I've never had any issue with a factory Motorola antenna or an aftermarket antenna on my apx 7000 UHF 2/ 7- 800 megahertz radio

I suppose it is possible to have damage to an antenna regarding connections or maybe shorting out or some other kind of damage that is not apparent.

I would probably look at it as an antenna flaw and not the radio.
 

GTR8000

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So to review: APX antenna is performing poorly on both the APX as well as the XTS, while the XTS antenna is performing well on both the APX and the XTS? Seems pretty clear that you've got a bum antenna. Replace it with the correct antenna for the radio (NAR6594A).
 

brndnstffrd

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There was a post on another site a while back about something similar to this and the user either xrayed or cut open the antenna. They had found that the antenna had failed internally due to a poor design. I was actually surprised that due to this that this does not occur more often. They had posted pics but the work is not mine and the pics don't belong to me so I will not repost them. Hopefully the user will see this thread and comment with more info.
 

GTR8000

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It's worth noting that there were two APX 7000 VHF/7/800 antenna designs. The original design was 234mm long, while the replacement design (NAR6594A) was a slightly shorter 203mm. The newer, shorter design started appearing at some point in mid-2011.

 

northstarfire0693

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So to review: APX antenna is performing poorly on both the APX as well as the XTS, while the XTS antenna is performing well on both the APX and the XTS? Seems pretty clear that you've got a bum antenna. Replace it with the correct antenna for the radio (NAR6594A).

You are correct sir. I was thinking of a bum antenna, but was not sure and figured I would reach out. Ill look at ordering another moto antenna for the APX.
 

northstarfire0693

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It's worth noting that there were two APX 7000 VHF/7/800 antenna designs. The original design was 234mm long, while the replacement design (NAR6594A) was a slightly shorter 203mm. The newer, shorter design started appearing at some point in mid-2011.


The one that came with my radio is the 234mm one. Ill see if I can find the newer one.
 

ResQguy

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I swapped the Moto antenna on my 7000 to a Diamond antenna and the GPS did not work. No problem with TX/RX analog or P25, but no go on the GPS even when outdoors.
Well there is a reason for that, Diamond doesn't have a GPS chip in the antenna base.
 

northstarfire0693

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I know my radio has GPS, but why would I need to use it. Does that have to do with the system or just something you can set your radio to do
 

vagrant

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It can be useful when you want to share your location, as well as observe how far away another operator is when sharing their location as well.

ResQguy, thank you for reaffirming what I discovered after testing.
 

mikegilbert

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The NAR6596A is a fabulous antenna. It is V/700/800/GPS and is 6.5" tall.
I have been using it for years but it doesn't show on MOL as an APX replacement antenna, but it is.

+1 FOR THE NAR6596A. Back when I was rockin twin 7000s, it sure made my V/7/8 radio shorter.
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