Repairing broken portable radio aerials

AnthonyL

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Apr 25, 2014, 11:59:53 AM4/25/14

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Got three now snapped off (don't ask - no kids around). It's
debatable whether they actually do anything but suggestions please of
how to fix.

--
AnthonyL

Tricky Dicky

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Apr 25, 2014, 12:17:50 PM4/25/14

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Some model shops sell various small diameter brass tubes you might find one that is good push-fit into the snapped ends and you should be able to solder it in place but you probably will need an iron with a decent wattage or a fine torch.

Richard

Mr Pounder

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Apr 25, 2014, 12:23:17 PM4/25/14

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"AnthonyL" <nos...@please.invalid> wrote in message
news:535a8613...@news.eternal-september.org...

> Got three now snapped off (don't ask - no kids around). It's
> debatable whether they actually do anything but suggestions please of
> how to fix.

Wire coat hanger?
Ahem ....

Steve

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Apr 25, 2014, 12:48:44 PM4/25/14

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On Fri, 25 Apr 2014 17:23:17 +0100, Mr Pounder wrote:

> "AnthonyL" <nos...@please.invalid> wrote in message
> news:535a8613...@news.eternal-september.org...

>> Got three now snapped off (don't ask - no kids around). It's debatable
>> whether they actually do anything but suggestions please of how to fix.
>

> Wire coat hanger?
> Ahem ....

Poundland recently had "Rabbit Ears" aerials (2x telescopic on a base
with lead). You might be able to use those if they are the right size...

Phil L

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Apr 25, 2014, 1:05:32 PM4/25/14

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They're a pain in the arse to fix as they never extend properly again (I'm
assuming telescopic?)

There's plenty of replacement ones available for a pound or two via google
shopping and fleabay

Martin Brown

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Apr 25, 2014, 1:06:48 PM4/25/14

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Any length of scrap wire length depending on the waveband.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

Phil L

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Apr 25, 2014, 1:21:38 PM4/25/14

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The radio I use at work (rescued from a skip five years ago) has long since
lost it's aerial, since then it's had various lengths of copper wire, a
stainless steel brick tie, a bent piece of galvanised skim bead, and now
it's using a 2ft length of steel wire from an old fence, the sort that has
green plastic coating, but with the coating now removed, it picks up
everything I want it to.

Scott M

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Apr 25, 2014, 1:46:30 PM4/25/14

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One of my most inspired bodges used a piece of co-ax that came to hand
in exactly the way that it's not meant to be used - Strip the insulation
off, fold back the screen and shove it down the remains of the tube!

--
Scott

Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?

Mr Fuxit

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Apr 25, 2014, 1:59:43 PM4/25/14

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You might not believe it, but, I had a neighbour who broke off his car's aerial
in order to replace it with a coat hanger, as he thought it looked cool!

Mr Pounder

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Apr 25, 2014, 2:45:56 PM4/25/14

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"Mr Fuxit" <steve....@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:94bd3573-3d9a-4c65...@googlegroups.com...

Was it a Mk 3 Cortina?
I had a coat hanger aerial on such a car. It looked ........... appropriate.

newshound

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Apr 25, 2014, 3:26:17 PM4/25/14

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+1

Peter Parry

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Apr 25, 2014, 5:51:57 PM4/25/14

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On Fri, 25 Apr 2014 15:59:53 GMT, nos...@please.invalid (AnthonyL)
wrote:

>Got three now snapped off (don't ask - no kids around). It's
>debatable whether they actually do anything but suggestions please of
>how to fix.

I have a number of assorted ones you might be able to use and are
welcome to if it's any help.

F Murtz

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Apr 26, 2014, 12:01:57 AM4/26/14

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AnthonyL wrote:
> Got three now snapped off (don't ask - no kids around). It's
> debatable whether they actually do anything

Nothing in the case of AM but needed for FM.

misterroy

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Apr 26, 2014, 1:29:22 AM4/26/14

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My wee radio now has the first piece of thin cable I found soldered to the circuit board. It was about a meter of cable from an old microphone. The radio works better than it did new. I have thought of using teh same fix on a radio with an intact ariel, but poor reception.

Brian Gaff

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Apr 26, 2014, 4:11:44 AM4/26/14

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Find a new one from somewhere. Not much that one can do as they are made of
very thin tubes formed at the ends, and the posh ones also have a little
contact that wipes inside the larger one it fits into.

I find the most annoying problem is when they bend and thus get dented and
cannot retract.

If I had a tenner for every one I've seen 'mended' with a straightened out
wire coathanger.....
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active

"AnthonyL" <nos...@please.invalid> wrote in message
news:535a8613...@news.eternal-september.org...

meow...@care2.com

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Apr 26, 2014, 6:49:52 AM4/26/14

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Rod aerials are held in place with a single screw. Replacing one is an easy repair job

NT

damdu...@yahoo.co.uk

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Apr 26, 2014, 7:29:27 PM4/26/14

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On Fri, 25 Apr 2014 17:23:17 +0100, "Mr Pounder"

A retired marine electrician of my acquaintance who knew everything
about anything twice over used to use one as a TV aerial on his camper
van, we swapped it one day for a plastic one and over the next few
days observed him frequently fiddling with the set while passers by
who noticed it was now plastic often grinned.
When he finally noticed he swore reception wasn't affected as the
black plastic contained carbon to colour it.

G.Harman