Broken Antenna - can I fix it?

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45Kevin

45Kevin

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Calgary, Alberta
I've got this Larson antenna and stupidly mounted in a high place using the metal roof as a ground plane. Good thing eh? :doh:

I forgot to take it off while going under a low hanging branch and...

I did this twice if you can believe it. After the first time I epoxied it back together. The copper wire has not broken and it still worked as it was laying down below the roofline.

If I epoxy it again will it still work?

I am looking for another more protected location to mount it.



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Spring base!

cheers,
george.
 
I got a new Comet SSB25NMO that i will mount on the front bumper I think. I also got a SS460SB that I may use on the 45, but will probably roof mount on my tow rig.

What I want to know is if I can epoxy my broken antenna straight again and expect to get good performance from it?

I like the look of that flexi-whip though. I can't see the price though. How much?
 
Try to straighten and glue - it'll either work fine or it won't. From the picture it's hard to determine the extent of the actual damage. If you have an antenna analyser then checking it after the repair would be easy.

I've used a Larsen nmo2 70sh. It has a spring base and it stainless steel and can take a beating. Survived multiple hits in the oz bush with low hanging branches/scrub etc. Just make sure you loctite the grub screws. I have the antenna up on the roof rack and even a flexible antenna (like the shorty 2m comet that I run on my 80 here in the US) would not survive if it was hit in the base of the antenna. The larsen 70sh is a good choice since the spring base will fold over right at base height and it's a 2m/440 dual band.

cheers,
george.
 
Sounds good Kevin. I'll call Friday night or Sat AM. Or call me 4o399zero5345.
 
So Kevin came over with his SWR meter this morning.

He knows a lot about radios and makes his living at it.

I used epoxy to glue the broken antenna. Hopefully it has enough to strenght to withstand highway levels of wind. I don't expect it to repel branches and other trail obsticals. That's how it broke to begin with. II have a new antenna now so this will be used as a backup when, I mean if, the new one gets broken.

With the repair we got very good readings on the meter.

We were checking for continuity and found that the 2m antenna I have had continuity from the base to the mast, but the two dual band antennas I have did not. Anyone have a reason for this? All three antennas I have tested well on the SWR meter.

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A) Kevin is a helluvaguy, to have that Motorola meter. That is an unusual item these days.
B) Differences in DC continuity are because of differences in design of the antennas; the proof is in the performance and/or measurement by a wattmeter.
C) Back to A, you owe Kevin a high-quality beverage!
 
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