Do NOT use Diamond SRH77CA on SDS100

[Markb]

LOL, No kidding! [emoji106]

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[TailGator911]

I saw a post in one of my groups list that the user claimed the Diamond SRH789 fit the SDS100 'perfectly', but I do not recall if he stated it was a bnc or an sma connection. (?) Anyone have any experience with this antenna? My two favorites are the Remtronix 800mhz and the Watson W-889 telescopic angled antenna.

JD
kf4anc

 

[W4KRR]

As for the lathe comment, that was in reference to the guy who dremeled the base of his SMA antenna. Not exactly the best way to get the dimensions right for optimal fit, and not very aesthetic, either. If you're going to modify an antenna to get the fitment correct, a lathe is the right tool for the job, not a Dremel.

If anyone has used a lathe on their antenna or adapter, I'd like to see a video of the procedure. I admittedly don't know much about lathes, but I can't envision how you would attach the antenna (or adapter) onto the lathe.

 

[eorange]

I saw a post in one of my groups list that the user claimed the Diamond SRH789 fit the SDS100 'perfectly', but I do not recall if he stated it was a bnc or an sma connection. (?) Anyone have any experience with this antenna?

I have this SMA antenna. The tiny set screw doesn't hold antenna in place. So when it's mostly extended, the antenna will eventually flop over to the side. It's a good antenna other than this design flaw.

I would love to find a collar, or something, to slide over the swivel joint so it can remain vertical.

The base has a small diameter, so it just might fit the SDS100.

 

[Hit_Factor]

Some notes for turning on a lathe.

I used a 7/16" 5C collet to hold the work, the next 32nd smaller collet would have been better. But tolerances are not too important here.

Turned it down to .400" diameter, I took off .180" on the X axis, could have gotten away with taking just .100"

I finished the white metal with some alumablack.

Pictures attached in the PDF.

I bet it works exactly the same as Markb's antenna.

 

[bob-k]

This may work

I have this SMA antenna. The tiny set screw doesn't hold antenna in place. So when it's mostly extended, the antenna will eventually flop over to the side. It's a good antenna other than this design flaw.

I would love to find a collar, or something, to slide over the swivel joint so it can remain vertical.

The base has a small diameter, so it just might fit the SDS100.

Take your Antenna to a Loews or Home depo find a heat shrinkable tubing and with good distance not to melt sleeve use a lighter to shrink it down Id say no longer then 1.5-2.0" centered over knuckle.

 

[W4KRR]

Some notes for turning on a lathe.

I used a 7/16" 5C collet to hold the work, the next 32nd smaller collet would have been better. But tolerances are not too important here.

Turned it down to .400" diameter, I took off .180" on the X axis, could have gotten away with taking just .100"

I finished the white metal with some alumablack.

Pictures attached in the PDF.

I bet it works exactly the same as Markb's antenna.

Thanks for the info; the pics help me understand how the antenna is held in place in the lathe.

 

[Fast1eddie]

Not sure if this will be of help, so here goes...With the varying of SMA depths and case designs along with several SMA antennas I like, I went to ACE Hardware and for the mere sum of 35 cents, I purchased several rubber discs of varying thicknesses and diameters. Once home I experimented with different radio and antenna configurations and eventually settled on one I like. No more loose antenna and no over tightening.

I prefer the Comet SMA-3 with the folding hinge which works very well on all my radios.

 

[jonwienke]

You're going to have issues with that setup. 0.400" is smaller than the ID of the collar, and all the lateral stress of a fall or tip-over is applied directly to the base of the SMA connector down inside the collar. It's going to be easy to break the SMA connector just like this guy did:
https://forums.radioreference.com/uniden-tech-support/373856-oooops-sds100-sma-connector-kapoot.html

It would have been better if you had machined your shoulder such that the antenna bottomed out on the collar about .010" before bottoming out on the SMA connector, like about .080" on the X axis.

 

[eorange]

Take your Antenna to a Loews or Home depo find a heat shrinkable tubing and with good distance not to melt sleeve use a lighter to shrink it down Id say no longer then 1.5-2.0" centered over knuckle.

I had actually tried that. I shrank 2 layers over the knuckle, and it was nice and stiff...for a while. But as the antenna moved to one side, the knuckle stretched the tubing and that was the end of that.

 

[Hit_Factor]

You're going to have issues with that setup. 0.400" is smaller than the ID of the collar, and all the lateral stress of a fall or tip-over is applied directly to the base of the SMA connector down inside the collar. It's going to be easy to break the SMA connector just like this guy did:
https://forums.radioreference.com/uniden-tech-support/373856-oooops-sds100-sma-connector-kapoot.html

It would have been better if you had machined your shoulder such that the antenna bottomed out on the collar about .010" before bottoming out on the SMA connector, like about .080" on the X axis.

I had another antenna, so I tried again.

.408" diameter and take off .100" on the x axis worked perfect. Collar is supporting the antenna, exactly at the end of the cut and antenna is less than 1/4 turn from bottomed out.

 

[synthetik]

Antenna Shrink Wrap

First post here. Brand new SDS100 owner. Following the advice from Mikeb I used a Dremel to grind down my Diamond SRH320A I had been using on my VX8-DR and it fit like a charm. I ground up a tad bit too high to make it perfectly flush with the collar but a small piece of 3/8" Heat shrink cleaned up the messy look and likely adds a little bit more water resistance flush with the collar (not as good as a compressed o-ring) but I wanted to share.

Thanks for all the great info!

 

[miksmini]

Uniden SDS100

Great advice and picture, on the Diamond srh77ca.
That is exactly what I was wondering;
If the sma antenna would fit inside the lip of the SDS100 Scanner.
Thanks again, Mike.
W3MJV

 

[darkness975]

I saw a post in one of my groups list that the user claimed the Diamond SRH789 fit the SDS100 'perfectly', but I do not recall if he stated it was a bnc or an sma connection. (?) Anyone have any experience with this antenna? My two favorites are the Remtronix 800mhz and the Watson W-889 telescopic angled antenna.

JD
kf4anc

Regarding this - I too have a Diamond SRH789 antenna. Currently it lives on my HomePatrol 2. However, I am getting better reception on my BCD325P2 which has a Comet BNC-W100RX antenna when the two of them are on the same channel. I also notice that the BCD325P2 also gets more channels than the HP2, even though I know that both sets of channels are in both of their databases. I ordered an adapter to try the BNC-W100RX on my HP2 to see if it improves reception. If it does I'll order another one for a permanent on it.

Anyway, when (not if) I get my SDS100, I am trying to figure out if I should order a third BNC-W100RX for it, or if I should use one of the Diamond SRH789 antennas I have (I have 3 of them for crying out loud). I realize the whole YMMV scenario, and my location is not conducive for scanning (trees all around, located in a gulley/valley, everything against me) but I am mostly just thinking about overall general performance and what ya'll think from just a basic functionality standpoint.

Thanks in advance for any tips/advice anyone can give.

 

[CQ]

Phooey!

5 minutes with a Dremel and problem solved!

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Just don't rebrand it as a remtronix.

 

[denrodg]

Speaking of which, this cat just got the port savers back in stock. I just bought 4 of them

https://www.ebay.com/itm/221584357640?rmvSB=true

I bought one myself from Scanner master, right after I got the radio I realized my watson 881 and remtronix wouldn't fit.