[eduardo]

Hello Colleagues: I accidentally sliced the antenna on my 72 MHz receiver about 2/3 of the way out from the receiver (don't ask how, I confused it with another wire!). Question: Can I just simply solder the severed segment back on, or is it more complicated than that? Thank you.

Eduardo

[tskca]

Personally I wouldn't solder it back together. From my experience the soldered joint creates an area where there's a tendency for it to break easily again. I would replace the entire length of the antenna. However, this would mean that you would have to open up the Rx and delicately solder the new antenna on the board. Not too difficult. Or else you could solder the piece on and put heat shrink tubing on it and hope for the best......

[eduardo]

Thank you for the advice.

Eduardo

[allan980]

I have replaced the ant on several of my rx.The trick is to make sure the wire is exactly
the same length or the rx will be out of tune with the tx so the range will be cut down. You can buy replacement ant wire at your LHS. Hope this helps
Allan

[reo]

been in the hobby for 40 years and have soldered and heat shrunk lots of them with no issues. But the previous poster is correct, if the wire will break it will be at the edge of the solder joint but the odds are very low that this will happen....I would go ahead and solder to keep it simple.....but just my opinion....soldering a new one onto the board is simple as well and can be done in a few minutes with a fine tipped iron.......Ron

[chuebner]

I have also soldered and shrink tubed a few together with no ill effects and/or breakage. If you are very good with an iron, replace the wire at the RX, if not, solder, shrink tube, RANGE CHECK, and go fly.

[Cougar429]

True the wire may be less flexible near the solder joint, but if the heat shrink is done correctly then there will be less stress in that area anyway.

As posted it's more critical that it be the correct length.

I have replaced more antennas than I can count and do all of them right on the receiver board. In each case the end of the wire at the solder joint is covered with liquid tape to reduce stress on the wire there. I have a table marked out for Futaba and Berg antenna lengths, (the two I most commonly use) and once the wire is installed and the receiver case reassembled I cut them to the marked length.

[bbbair]

Plan 'B' ... now that so many of us have 'Upgraded' to 2.4GHz... does anyone have a spare FM receiver that they would be willing to donate to Ed????

[aceplant00]

what brand and channel

[Max]

I have repaired many 72 mhz radios antenna's using a soldered connection and never had a problem ever.

The only times I would not advise it is if the person doing the repair has no idea how to make a good solder connection.

Solder up a new piece and you should be fine. The Antenna length needs to be 39" (72 mhz) but can be an inch or 2 shorter and you will not suffer any adverse effects.

If all you did was slice off the antenna, just solder the end back on. I'm willing to bet you will only lose abut 3/8" or less in the solder joint and the antenna should work fine.

Just make sure you make a nice clean joint and use heat shrink tubing to protect the joint.