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Antenna Question
Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 6:48 pm
by pctek_1957
Ok, so i think I already know the answer, but....
I have a glass mount cell antenna (pig tail look). I want to replace the whip with one that is for 450-512Mhz. Will this hurt my radio? I'm not sure if the small amount of circuits in the part that mounts inside and on the glass is what tunes the antenna, and is there for set for cell freq range.
Thanks for the advise.
Steve
forgot to say
Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 6:50 pm
by pctek_1957
I forgot to say that I long since got rid of the cell phone that used that antenna...
Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 8:15 pm
by kf4sqb
Steve, I don't think you would have any problems with it on receive, although it may not perform well. For transmit, I'd double-check the SWR first.
Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:43 am
by jackhackett
I wouldn't even bother trying it, those things are very frequency specific. Better off just buying the right one.
Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:28 am
by RadioSouth
Yup, the antenna foots are band specific. They look quite a bit different and the UHF one has a trimmer screw that the 800 doesn't (at least in the A/S brand).
Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:21 pm
by 440roadrunner
Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 2:46 pm
by kb0nly
I think he meant the base of the antenna.
Thought so
Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:06 pm
by pctek_1957
Thanks for confirming what I thought. I'll just buy a new one from A/S. Now the trick will be removing the old antenna and not crack the glass... i usually pry to hard

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:57 pm
by kb0nly
Don't pry on it!
Use a retractable razor knife, under a buck at most super stores, get the smaller size with the blade that is about 1/2 wide, they are a little more flexible than the larger 3/4-1" blade size.
Put the blade out the full length and then just carefully work it under one corner and slowly saw back and forth while gently pulling on the antenna in the opposite direction. Most of the ones i have removed i got about half way through the adhesive pad before it started to peel off. Then just use the same knife or a razor blade to remove any left over adhesive and clean the surface with something like goo gone, oops, or whatever strong adhesive remover that you prefer to get dizzy from, and install the new one.
I haven't broken any glass yet removing cell phone antenna's this way.