TRAM 1410 Not Receiving

[joesheets]

I put my new 1410 on a 10' galvanized pole and connected my coax to it via an adapter for the UHF connector. When I connect to BCD436HP...no signal.
I am real close to the local tower for our VIPER system and I get 4-5 bars with rubber duck. I have tried 4 different coax...all with no signal. Switch to the RD and then I get full signal and receive. Could this be a bad antenna or maybe the UHF adapter??

 

[mmckenna]

Yep, could be a bad antenna, bad adapter, or poor connection in the antenna connector at the base of the antenna.

Could be an open or a short. Take everything apart and visually inspect it. Look for any stray pieces of metal that may be causing a short between the center conductor and the outer conductor. If you have a multimeter or continuity checker, start looking with that. The two halves (disc and cone) parts of the antenna should not show continuity between them if your radio is disconnected.

Check for continuity through the adapter.

Check for continuity from the center pin on the base of the antenna to the upper disc elements.

 

[joesheets]

I checked continuity of the adapter and coax separately and all is good.
There is continuity from the disc to the center of the connector of the antenna and continuity from the cone and sheild of the connector. There is no continuity between the disc and cone.
The odd thing is, when I connect the adapter to the antenna and recheck the disc and cone continuity, the cone is fine but the disc is not..no connection. Could I have the wrong adapter? See pics of it below.


View attachment 78982View attachment 78983View attachment 78984

 

[hiegtx]

I checked continuity of the adapter and coax separately and all is good.
There is continuity from the disc to the center of the connector of the antenna and continuity from the cone and sheild of the connector. There is no continuity between the disc and cone.
The odd thing is, when I connect the adapter to the antenna and recheck the disc and cone continuity, the cone is fine but the disc is not..no connection. Could I have the wrong adapter? See pics of it below.


View attachment 78982View attachment 78983View attachment 78984

That does not appear to be the correct connector. According to the specs in Amazon for that antenna, the connector on the antenna is an SO-239. The correct connector to use with that is a PL-259. Look at the picture from Amazon for the PL-259.

https://www.amazon.com/Ancable-Silver-PL-259-Solder-Connector/dp/B01NAOKRCN?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1

 

[mmckenna]

^^^^ yeah, what he said.

The antenna has a UHF female (SO239) connector on the bottom. Your coax, if it has a UHF male (PL259) connector on it, should connect directly to the antenna without the adapter.

That adapter you have is an N male to UHF female. The outer ring size/thread is the same, but the innards are not. Just attach your coax directly to the bottom of the antenna.

 

[joesheets]

I got it working. Thanks for all of the responses. As you all said, I had the wrong adapter and I didn't need adapter at all!
I have the ant at 25' now and working fine on VHF and UHF. So-so on 700-800mhz.