G5 Antenna issue - maybe

[surfacemount]

Hello.
Sorry, I am still having a lot of issues outside of the fornication G series learning curve.

I kind of bought a dog off of eBay, which I know is strike one, but it was a pretty good combo deal including accessories like an amplified charger.

First thing happened when I pulled it out of the box the upper left button fell off. No returns. Also don't want to roll the die with the Bay Corporation and lose my money AND the auction item.

Anyways

It has what my reading tells me is the older style (purple?) 800 stubby. I have read also that it needs a SMA with a recessed center pin or you will drive the jack's pin into the connector and game over.

It only sporadically receives on that antenna. Not an intermittent I can replicate. Generally deaf as a hammer.
It gets full quieting the second I drop it in the charger.
I took it on a road trip, several times along the interstate.

I... don't believe it's an intermittent connection failure.
I have cleaned the jack and the plug with a fiberglass brush. No change.
I gingerly touched the rx center pin with my pocket knife and the radio immediately locked and began receiving CC and voice grants.
I measured the pin depth on a micrometer, then measured the antenna receptacle depth, they seemed to have adequate overlap and the female wasn't overtly... out of round.
I took a motorola RSM antenna, and LIGHTLY inserted until i felt resistance, no joy.

I have since updated the firmware to the most current/whatever it suggested. Serial number lookup suggests it was made in 2018 (micro not latest flavor USB).

What am I missing?

Guess what I really am asking is, do i risk some more money finding that kenwood antenna or the latest rvn unicator antenna and roll the dice, or admit defeat and accept it is a charger queen?

Guess I could put the antenna on my VNA. Not sure I have the adapters for a deepwell SMA. Guess I could also make the trip to a storage shed and dig out a mobile antenna, but same issue. Feel like I am missing something simple. Oh, guess I could get some forceps and gingerly see if the pin is still soldered securely.

Thoughts?

 

[surfacemount]

Update, forgot I had some mil antennas in a closet. A Harris handheld antenna carefully screwed until LIGHTLY seated and it's picking up.

So, is the factory antenna bunk or bad, or is the pin depressed?

 

[K9KLC]

The only thing I'll say is I got my last G5 used and I thought it was not working right. It had the purple band antenna. I swapped for the blue band one and presto it came to life.

Took me about 5 minutes to order the updated antenna and all is well. Both my G5s are from probably 2016 or so but both now have the updated antenna.

 

[hill]

Yea earlier purple banded antennas were not great. Purchase a replacement blue banded antenna and you will be good go.

I Purchased a used G5 Pager a few years ago from a hamfest. It had an older purple banded antenna and I had some blue banded ones and it was immediately upgraded to blue.

 

[hazrat8990]

Since you are looking for an antenna anyway, I would suggest you just go with the Kenwood. There is zero risk of damaging the pin since the SMA is standard, unlike the Motorola one that is actually proprietary. Just a bit of minor trimming of the skirt is needed for the best fit. The antenna has a lot more gain than the Unication one, and they are easily found on eBay. Just be sure to get a genuine Kenwood and you'll be pleased.

 

[n7maq-1]

The Kenwood antenna is KRA-38, and as Hazrat pointed out get the real deal not some Amazon knock off. They list around $60.00.

 

[surfacemount]

ok, thanks!
I am getting this thing lined out, day by day. Would you guys rather see individual posts about separate problems, or should I be doing one post as I go along? (I don't really know subforum etiquette in this one)

 

[K9KLC]

ok, thanks!
I am getting this thing lined out, day by day. Would you guys rather see individual posts about separate problems, or should I be doing one post as I go along? (I don't really know subforum etiquette in this one)

Personally I'd start a new thread about a different problem, people will be looking at the title of this thread and if you're having other issues might be easier to get people that have the correct information to answer with the current problem.

 

[surfacemount]

Ok, didn't want to appear as if I am trying to clutter or spam or clickfarm or whatever the kids do for kicks these days...

thanks!

 

[hill]

Since you are looking for an antenna anyway, I would suggest you just go with the Kenwood

I will offer a different take.

Just go will the original blue baned antenna. This is antenna I use on all my Unications and pickup my home county trucked radio system from three counties away. Plus is very short and easy to carry on your person.

 

[surfacemount]

well, antenna came in. It has a blue band but a black top.

... immediately the thing sprang to life and it is now showing full signal where it wouldn't even lock with the one it came with.

Thank you all for your help. I'll take it to work tomorrow and drive test it, but I am going to assume similar performance.

 

[K9KLC]

well, antenna came in. It has a blue band but a black top.

... immediately the thing sprang to life and it is now showing full signal where it wouldn't even lock with the one it came with.

Thank you all for your help. I'll take it to work tomorrow and drive test it, but I am going to assume similar performance.

Sounds like the right antenna and exactly my experience with it, and posted about.
Hopefully this will get you where you need to be receive wise.

 

[JimD56]

These are the antennas I use on my G4 tuned 700/800 and G2 tuned 450-470. For me in the "Big City" Metro Area Fort Lauderdale/Miami they work great.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/267574997229