Saber Antenna Question

[zoulas]

Hello gents, I know the saber antenna is different than the astro saber, the astro saber being SMI. My saber antenna has a small pin hole at the bottom. On the radio side, its just open hole where the antenna screws in. Seems to work fine that way although I don't see how any RF connection is made.

Regarding the microphone strain relief screw, this too has a small hole at the bottom (like the antenna has) . I also have another microphone where the strain relief is flat at the bottom.

Bottom line, I am not sure which one (if any ) is the correct strain relief to use as I don't want to blow out the radio.

Many Thanks, W2ZOU

[Tom in D.C.]

The SMA antenna connector on an Astro Saber has two poles, one being the center pin and other being the threaded part. The Saber, OTOH, has an MX connector which is one pole only. Saber antennas with the depression, or hole if you will, in the bottom center are all still single pole; the hole means nothing. On the Saber the entire connector that you see it "hot" with RF when the radio is transmitting. On the Astro Saber only the center pin is "hot" with RF when transmitting.

There is no electrical connection for the external microphone strain relief screw, so whether the screw has a hole in its bottom or not doesn't mean anything.

[zoulas]

Thanks for clearing that up Tom.

[GlennD]

The hole is there only to protect the center pin if the wrong antenna is screwed on.

In the past I have found sma antennas screwed on to Sabers. In this case the only thing radiating is the stud. With our system, they still worked. Going the other way, you are screwing a shield cap on the antenna.

I have seen fire radios turned in for no tx or rx when someone screwed on the shorter saber vhf antenna in place of the xts antenna.

[Tom in D.C.]

Glenn,

With people playing those kinds of dopey games with antennas and radios I'd have thought that you'd be putting Loc-Tite on the things starting a long time ago!

Regards,