[Icom] Loose handheld antenna connector.

Mon, 4 Nov 2002 18:00:16 +0200

...By the way, Amphenol has a BNC connector which includes a glass seal at
the lug end. That prevents the movement of the center contact from acting on
the interconnecting wire to the board and braking it. The regular connector
with a floating center pin won't prevent that. In y experience the wire
break is the more likely culprit. Just go carefully: the boards have spring
contacts to ground and it takes care not to break them.
		Best of luck, it's a good radio you've got there. 73:
			Alex	4Z6KS

-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Pearce KN4AQ [mailto:[email protected]] 
Sent: Monday, November 04, 2002 3:07 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Icom] Loose handheld antenna connector.

That's a fairly common problem with W32A's.  Most solutions I've seen 
didn't need Locktite - just needed to find a tool that could tighten the 
nut properly.  The little spanner wrenches that do it are not common 
tools.  I got a "bent-nose" needle nose plyers, and I've been able to keep 
my antennas tight.

Before you take any final steps, remember that there's a little screw on 
the back of the radio at the base of the antenna that must also be tight 
(but it won't tighten the BNC connector if the nut is loose).

Also, when the antenna is loose, the wire connecting it to the PC board is 
very likely to break... just barely.  That can lead to an intermittent 
connection.  Look for that (with a wattmeter, or by listening to a distant 
repeater) before tightening things down.  If you do have an intermittent, 
tightening the BNC won't solve it, and it will get worse.  Fixing that 
requires disassembling the radio, which can be done if you're careful.

73,
Gary KN4AQ

  11/4/2002 "Michael P. Olbrisch" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Today while hiking in the Franklin Mountains, I discovered that my ICOM 
>IC-W32A had a loose antenna connector. The area I was in had no cell 
>phone coverage, so radio was important on this hike.  I did a quick 
>repair on the trail, and now at home I am looking at a better solution.
>
>My best thought, take the nut off, drop in a bit of LOCKTITE 242 (can 
>be removed with common tools, no heat. (BLUE)) and tighten it down 
>good.
>
>Any other suggestions or better ideas before I proceed?
>I won't need the radio till next Saturday for another hike.
>
>Thanks Y-all.
>
>Mike.
>
>My E-mail address: mailto:[email protected]
>Ham Radio page: http://www.qsl.net/kd9kc/
>Gun page: http://home.elp.rr.com/elpasochl/
>Dog page: http://www.geocities.com/heartland/estates/4174
>----
>Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan W6OLD, [email protected] Icom 
>Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.315 MHz Icom FAQ: 
>http://www.qsl.net/icom/

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Gary Pearce KN4AQ
Editor, Repeater Journal
SouthEastern Repeater Association
116 Waterfall Ct.
Cary, NC 27513
919-380-9944
[email protected]
www.sera.org
----
Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan W6OLD, [email protected] Icom Users
Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.315 MHz Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/

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