VHF Antenna Connector mystery..

[BrianM]

Hello,

Somewhere since June, I lost the connector which ties my whip antenna to the coax cable. I can't find any distinguishing markings on the antenna to figure out what brand/model it is. I'm sure it is at least 20 years old. The threads on the end are 1/2"-20
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9da01b3127ccec6bd0cf27b1600000040O00FZsWrly3Yg9 vPhw/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

I am VHF ignorant. What type of connector would join this with an the radio's cable?

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9da01b3127ccec6bde1423b4800000040O00FZsWrly3Yg9 vPhw/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Sources?

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9da01b3127ccec6bd09f3babd00000040O00FZsWrly3Yg9 vPhw/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[BrianM]

No clues out there? I was hoping with all the Ex-Navy guys on the forum, that somebody was a radio-man. I need to get this worked out asap as the mast goes in on Friday, and I sure don't want to be playing a 250lb monkey 35' in the air trying to hook up my radio antenna. Any good resources on VHF Radio Antenna Basics of which I may draw upon? I may be able to figure out for myself which connector works if I could navigate through all the terminology out there?

Times runnin' out.

Thanks

[htom]

I don't know. More than that, I'll guess that you actually have half of one side of the connector there; there's another part that's missing. Maybe some kind of N connector. What does the other end of the connection look like?

[paladin]

none.....I think what you may have is something that screws to an antenna base...perhaps a 1/4-28 thread

[kc8pql]

none.....I think what you may have is something that screws to an antenna base...perhaps a 1/4-28 thread
That would be my guess too.

[BrianM]

I was showing the antenna to our EE at work. I found it odd that there is no evidence of a 2nd conductor. You'd think that with a co-axial cable connecting to it, you'd see the two conductors isolated by some sort of insulation. I turned it over to show him the base, and noticed the last 6" of the fiberglass had snapped off... whoops.. guess i may have closed the car door over it.

anyhow, since it was broken, I decided to look inside. All I found was a single insulated core-conductor. Don't you need a circuit with some form of impedance built in? Have to go back to my Physics book and re-read the section on "How Antennas work". Anyhow, I'm about to throw it into the bin. I have a 4 year old Shakespeare VHF antenna somewhere out in the piles of boxes, just need to buy a mount for it.

[paladin]

To be useful as a 1/4 wave vertical all it would have to be is a piece of wire approx 19 inches long or as short as 17 inches....if it was designed to fit a motorola type mount, it is a single insulator wrapped around a 1/4-28 screw....and the ground plane is the metal roof to a vehicle.

[Iceboy]

"I was hoping with all the Ex-Navy guys on the forum, that somebody was a radio-man"
That's a hoot! That's like having a cab driver rebuild your transmission.

[paladin]

If you are worried about the wire/cable in the mast...be forwarned about losses in cable...send ma a private e-mail address and I'll forward a paper that I did for publication on cable losses...and antennas. just run the cable inside, well supported, and leave a foot outside to attach the cable/wire to the antenna base, and make sure the entry/exit is well sealed, and there is a drain for the hollow mast. The cable should not have any splices whatsoever.

[BrianM]

Hi Fellas,

I went to "plan b" with my 5 year old Shakespeare Whip antenna. The older "mystery" one is into the bin.

Thanks

[paladin]

Whaddaya need and ex-Navy radio man for...when Ya got some active Ham radio operators available with over 50 years experience....?

[Iceboy]

"Whaddaya need and ex-Navy radio man for...when Ya got some active Ham radio operators available with over 50 years experience....? "
I agree with ya Chuck. Unless you need someone to do your radio talking for ya.