Is it normal for the Remtronix REM-842S to have a slight bend to it?
Straight cardboard box for comparison.
Straight cardboard box for comparison.
Is it normal for the REM-842S to have a slight bend?
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All mine have done that. It’s just barely noticeable, but my brain always wants to fix try and fix it!
Any chance of breaking?
Not unless you repeatedly try to straighten it! It does not harm reception
if you want perfectly straight rubber duckie antennas then dont touch them, in other words that little bend wont hurt anything.
I’ve heard the US Forestry Service routinely swaps out the portable radio rubber duckies used on their portable radios. They have a cache in Boise Idaho (one of many? I don’t know) where they fill orders for the forest fire service. When the portables are returned it’s my understanding they routinely swap out the rubber duckies BEFORE they test each radio. The reason for this is due to the abuse these radios experience. And the rubber duckies are a main contributor to radio failure.
Rubber duckie antennas are deceptive in nature… they all exhibit the same non-destructive appearance because of their rubber capability to provide flexibility. And while it’s true, they will last longer than a metal telescoping antenna, they aren’t indestructible. They do in fact fail after being flexed, lasting longer when the flexing is minor and lasting less when the flexing is severe. They are much like a paper clip… you can twist it just so many times before metal fatigue sets in and they snap. And because the antenna is covered with the protective rubber material, we don’t see when that happens. Our first indication is usually poor reception and transmission, which we usually deem a fault of the radio and not the antenna.
Rubber duckie antennas are deceptive in nature… they all exhibit the same non-destructive appearance because of their rubber capability to provide flexibility. And while it’s true, they will last longer than a metal telescoping antenna, they aren’t indestructible. They do in fact fail after being flexed, lasting longer when the flexing is minor and lasting less when the flexing is severe. They are much like a paper clip… you can twist it just so many times before metal fatigue sets in and they snap. And because the antenna is covered with the protective rubber material, we don’t see when that happens. Our first indication is usually poor reception and transmission, which we usually deem a fault of the radio and not the antenna.
The aforementioned model does not give me any heartache. However, the REM-820S is horrible when it comes to bending. You see, I am very rough on these radios. Typically, the bent antennas still work, but it is disquieting.
I'm a little OCD so it doesn't take much to get me going. lol
omanzz
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