T&L Publications

Going over some items for the hamfest I found my radio with telescoping antenna
had the top portion broken off leaving a ragged end. I know the right fix is to buy
a new antenna and install it. The problem these days is you can't find an exact replace
ment. Anyone have an idea how to fix the ragged end with a presentable
substitute? Thanks Paul

I can only think of three options, and you've already mentioned one, the right fix.
The second is to take the end from a broken antenna and push it into the broken end of
your radio's antenna until the ragged end meets the "little knob" at the antenna tip. (Gee,
I never realized it, but I've never learned what the technical name for that little end is.)
The downside of this approach is that the antenna is now shorter than it ought to be, and
may or may not be detuned enough to cause performance issues.
The third option is to crimp or solder or otherwise connect that replacement end so that
the entire antenna is again at its optimum length.
The downside of this third approach is that the antenna will not retract fully into itself, so
it is susceptible to being easily broken again.

You are in luck spindown.

Radio Shack still carries replacement Rod Antennas.
http://www.radioshack.com/family/index. ... 87.2032189

At $5.00....
It isn't even worth considering repairing the old antenna.


Signed: Janitor Tzap

There is another way to repair telescoping antennas. I did this a couple of times back in the '70s.

Find another antenna from the junk pile that has the same diameter at the base. Remove the broken antenna from it's base. It is probably crimped on in with dimples in 3 places. Drill out the dimples and remove. Cut off the replacement mast at the base and fit it to the base of the previously broken antenna. Crimp it on with a hammer and center punch.

I used to take another tack on antenna repair.

1. Find a piece of solid copper wire in a gauge close to the diameter of the broken piece.
2. Straighten the wire out as close to perfect as possible, how close you get depends on
how an*l retentive you are (I was very much so back in the old days).
3. Clean and dress the broken end of the antenna - cut off smooth and file any rough edges
smooth. If the broken end is near then beginning of that section, carefully remove it from the
preceding section - you may need to cut the crimped edge off.
4. Prepare the wire as follows: bend a "bump" into the bottom of the wire so that it makes a
snug fit into the "receiving" section of the antenna. Then curl the other end into a small spiral
so you can grab the new antenna element to extend it out or push it in. It should look something
like this: -~-----------@
5. Insert the wire/new element into the dressed antenna tube and use a pair of smooth face
pliers to round over/crimp the edge of the original antenna.

If you have done this correctly, you'll have a fully functional antenna again. Granted it may not
look as nice as a shiny new antenna, but it will look unique.

CeaSaR

Hi,

I think what i would do is simply stick a ball of Mighty Putty on the end

Thanks for the excellent fixes. After I submitted my question on the
forum I thought of some thing I had not considered before. That's to take
a steel or plated copper washer and enlarge the hole to fit over the broken
section,solder the washer to the stub, fill the hole with fine copper wire and
fill in the hole with solder. I will check RS for the antennas. Paul

Spindown,
I guess what you're trying to do is to make a knob on the broken antenna. Try a round headed bolt soldered or epoxied into whatever's left of the hollow rod.
Maybe even a ball bearing epoxied onto the top!
I'll bet the list could go on forever..
Len

you can solider a ball bearing also...if you have a hot enough gun like a weller.

spindown wrote:Thanks for the excellent fixes. After I submitted my question on the
forum I thought of some thing I had not considered before. That's to take
a steel or plated copper washer and enlarge the hole to fit over the broken
section,solder the washer to the stub, fill the hole with fine copper wire and
fill in the hole with solder. I will check RS for the antennas. Paul

What are you using for flux so as the solder to grab that chrome plated surface?

Hi,

Underneath that plating is probably brass, which solders good enough.
A little scraping or light filing might help?

When I worked in research years ago, we had a flux for stainess,etc. that would readily allow solder to flow and bond. It was a clear liquid and I wish I could remember the name as I have had many occasions for its use over the years. Anybody got a handle on this one?