Home Patrol Antenna, breaks in 2 months

[EJB]

Not really surprised by the SMA antenna cracking off.
With my 396, the SMA connector snapped within a 2 month time period also.

I use this antenna at home and switch to a 1/4 wave Larsen for my car, I guess the constant changing weakened it.

Anyone else break their antenna yet?

My wife assures me that she can fix it (she works as a lead solderperson and builds these things all the time). Lucky man to have a wife like this )

 

[wise871]

Let them know over at HomePatrol.Com forum. Someone else reported breaking theres also.

 

[Jay911]

The antenna, or the connector actually came off the circuit board?

I have gone so far as to actually carry my radio by the antenna and haven't seen any adverse effects. I haven't been changing it out though.

 

[EJB]

It was the connector Jay.
I honestly do alot of switching.

Again, the SMA connector on my 396 broke 2 months after I got it as well.

I saved the connector and I am lucky to have a wife whos livelyhood is based on sodering, she says it will be a snap to fix it.

 

[EJB]

Let them know over at HomePatrol.Com forum. Someone else reported breaking theres also.

Thank you sir, I shall.

I went to this website, I saw no area where to post, their was a blog entry generally giving the HP 1 a great write up.

I am sure UPman checks here frequently, he will see this forum and whats going on.

I will do what it takes to fix it and if that fails I might have to throw down some $ and make another trip to NYS, Radio Shack has an antenna built for 800 megh for a decent price. I could use an improved 800 meg antenna, the EDACS system here sounds lousy in rooms away from the tower.

I was just in the states today and am going down there again in Jan.

 

[W2NJS]

It's not generally known, but the SMA connector is rated at something like 500 connect/disconnect operations before possible failure. Why the manufacturers can't just go with a BNC is difficult to understand. Moral: Don't overuse the connector or, perhaps, make a pigtail of eighteen inches or so that terminates in a BNC, which leaves the SMA alone on the radio and you do all the switching at the BNC.

RADIO<>SMA-----SHORT COAX-----BNC FEMALE<>-----COAX TO ANTENNA>>

 

[ButchGone]

I have changed antennas on my 4-year old 396t too many times to count and never had a problem. I tend to leave the SMA/BNC adapter on since I switch between high-gain 800 portable antenna and stuff around house or in car. SMA actually gives better connection, seals out elements. Motorola uses the same kind of connectors on their radios, just backwards...radio is female end, antenna is male end.
I guess mileage varies.
BG..

 

[EJB]

Wirelessly posted (LG-GR500FD/V10a Teleca/Q7.1 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.5.1.0.0)

It's not generally known, but the SMA connector is rated at something like 500 connect/disconnect operations before possible failure. Why the manufacturers can't just go with a BNC is difficult to understand. Moral: Don't overuse the connector or, perhaps, make a pigtail of eighteen inches or so that terminates in a BNC, which leaves the SMA alone on the radio and you do all the switching at the BNC.

RADIO<>SMA-----SHORT COAX-----BNC FEMALE<>-----COAX TO ANTENNA>>

Hmm. I figured that it prob wasnt smart to keep attaching and re-attaching it. I havent carried it like Jay, lol and it hasnt fallen. Mr. Upman if you are in the giving mood this being the season and all you could maybe be persuaded to give one of your proud Uniden fans here in the not so great white north a replacement? Mooch mooch :-D