Motorola Spirit Antenna Connection Question

Flatshovel · Post by **Flatshovel** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:09 am

Hi all,
I have a rather dumb question. I have 2 Motorola Spirit MV21CV radios that I use for Murs. I would like to construct and build a outside antenna for one and use it as a base radio attached to my outside antenna. My question is for the mx antenna connector. On a walkie talkie like a Motorola Spirit, how is the ground hooked up to the antenna? I am assuming to the circuit board? I have come up with the idea of taking a bolt the size of the connector and screwing it into the antenna socket and then drilling out a hold in the middle of the bolt and slip the inner connector of a pl259 connector to that and homebrew the connector. As long as the outside of the pl259 plug does not touch the bolt this should actually work correct? I know it sounds cheap and crazy but heck its fun to experiment. I mean if you think about the mx to bnc connector where does the ground go on the mx side of the connector? What do you guys think. I would like to use it as a base radio?

Thanks,
Joey

Tom in D.C. · Post by **Tom in D.C.** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:17 am

Joey,

Save yourself all the time and trouble and buy an
MX-to-BNC adapter from one of the many sources
on eBay. One of them is a seller who calls himself
Kawamall. You're right in that you will have to fab
the chassis ground connection to the antenna on
your own. The BNC adapter is usually sold as being
for the GP68 radio which also uses the MX connector.

Regards,

Flatshovel · Post by **Flatshovel** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:23 am

Tom,

Thanks for replying. What would be the easyiest way to fab the ground connector to the radio. Could I solder a wire on the ground side of the connector and then solder to circuit board or could I use the accessory jack ground? If I can do you have the pinout of the jacks? Sorry to sound so dumb it is just a new thing for me, if this were a mobile radio nothing to it.

Thanks,
Joey

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:18 am

If I'm not mistaken, most if not all of the Spirit radios have a ground ring built-on already. At least it was the case with my MV11C units that I used to have.

-Josh

Will · Post by **Will** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:58 pm

Josh wrote: most if not all of the Spirit radios have a ground ring built-on already.
-Josh

That is correct, the SP50, GP60 series, GP68, also have the ground ring arround the antenna mount. The center thread is 1/4 X 32 thread.

The adaptor makes connection to the ground ring, and the center 'hot' threads.

Flatshovel · Post by **Flatshovel** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 3:16 pm

Thanks guys, I understand now how the ground works on the radio. I also have 2 maxon sp100 that are the same way. Actually the grounding is very simple come to think of it, once you know it makes sense. I would like to thank everyone for replying with their tips and knowledge.

Thanks,
Joey