lil will toss? repair cable?

[FFS]

We have an old Midland 75-822 with Wilson Lil will antenna that we have used in the coast range to verify truck traffic on the BLM roads. Our interest is to call out road number and direction to verify there are not logging trucks that we potentially meet on a blind corner without pullouts.
Historically the setup is a short range functional unit- nothing fancy.
The problem is that in the storage shed where I stored the antenna the vermin rodents have made lunch out of the coax insulation exposing bare shielding in a half dozen places.
What options are there for repair that doesn't involved throwing a unit away and/or buying more stuff.
1. do nothing and leave bare shielding....
2. electrical tape...
3. heat shrink tubing involving either
- dissassembling the coax to slip heatshrink over cable
- or cutting coax end off slipping heathshrink on and adding new coax end and retuning SWR
I am voting for funky electrical tape and moving on...
any positive and reasonable suggestions ?
fred

 

[niceguy71]

We have an old Midland 75-822 with Wilson Lil will antenna that we have used in the coast range to verify truck traffic on the BLM roads. Our interest is to call out road number and direction to verify there are not logging trucks that we potentially meet on a blind corner without pullouts.
Historically the setup is a short range functional unit- nothing fancy.
The problem is that in the storage shed where I stored the antenna the vermin rodents have made lunch out of the coax insulation exposing bare shielding in a half dozen places.
What options are there for repair that doesn't involved throwing a unit away and/or buying more stuff.
1. do nothing and leave bare shielding....
2. electrical tape...
3. heat shrink tubing involving either
- dissassembling the coax to slip heatshrink over cable
- or cutting coax end off slipping heathshrink on and adding new coax end and retuning SWR
I am voting for funky electrical tape and moving on...
any positive and reasonable suggestions ?
fred

I hate to throw away everything... but it is now the world we live in.
there are much better antenna's out there that will work far better.
by the time you try to get it apart and solder a new coax in then glue it back together..... it might be more cost effective to just buy a new one.
the cheapest coax I see on Amazon is $20.99 coax you will have to cut the end off... and try to cut apart the little will... solder it on and hope it works ... if it doesn't work your out time and $21 bucks and you still need to buy an antenna.

a new Little will is only $47.50

I would try to advise you to buy a Stryker SR-A10 for $79.99 plus $20.00 shipping directly from Stryker .... it's the cheapest way to get it... I've bought two from them.... they are refurbished because the box is pretty much mangled..... but other than the box it's a perfect antenna and comes with everything it's supposed to have, backed with a good Stryker warranty. .. I called Styker and asked why they are refurbished and they will tell you nothing is wrong with the antenna it's just the box..... that Stryker is an awesome antenna.... most have a great SWR right out of the box ... it will receive much better and transmit much, much further... I know it's double the price... but it is honestly worth it!
if you ask anyone that owns a Stryker SR-A10 they will rave about it!!!!!
here is a link GREAT Stryker Antenna for $100 after shipping

 

[FFS]

many thanks for your response. I will look at that option. Most all my stuff is at the age of repair, replacement,discard or just forget about it...
The CB is invaluable up in the forest roads and I need to get the unit back on line..
I appreciate the response
fred

 

[WSAC829]

This will probably be frowned upon by some, but if all you want is cheap quick fix i’d go for heat shrink tubing over the exposed areas. Just unsolder the PL259, slip chunks of tubing over the exposed areas, heat tubing, solder PL259 back on, done. This assumes the mice didn't bite through the insulator (usually white) to expose the copper stranded center conductor. If they actually took small chunks out of the braided shield you could also wrap a small piece of tinfoil over each exposed area before heat shrinking it.

Electrical tape wont hold up to the elements for long and moisture will eventually penetrate it which would completely ruin the coax and potentially the radio.

Don’t leave it exposed. Moisture will rot your coax (like the green powder in your trailer wiring harness) and your SWR will skyrocket, and you again risk burning up your radio.

Cheers

 

[merlin]

For the cost of replacing, it is cheaper to repair what you already have

by the time you try to get it apart and solder a new coax in then glue it back together..... it might be more cost effective to just buy a new one.
the cheapest coax I see on Amazon is $20.99 coax you will have to cut the end off... and try to cut apart the little will... solder it on and hope it works

Lil Will unscrews at the base, no need to destroy the antenna, just the mount.

 

[slowmover]

The antenna is a good upgrade.
Repair the old one, also.

 

[KC8ONR]

For the cost of replacing, it is cheaper to repair what you already have

Lil Will unscrews at the base, no need to destroy the antenna, just the mount.

lil will doesn't unscrew , the wilson 1000 and 5000 does.