Members Articles

REMOVING WIGGLE OF REPLACEMENT RUBBER DUCKS

By Eddie Valdez, DU1EV

I have two portable radios which are capable of 50 mhz and their supplied rubber duck antennas are quite long and prove uncomfortable when the radio is on my belt. I do not usually use 6 meters on my portables, so I decided to replace the antennas with either a more flexible antenna or one with better gain.

I found one antenna with better gain but the connector was BNC, and so I needed an SMA-BNC converter. The converter was not seated properly because of a gap between the bottom of the converter and the base of the radio. This resulted in a wiggling rubber duck.

For the other radio, I used an antenna that was more flexible. Since it was manufactured by another company, it was also not seated properly because of the gap between the antenna bottom and the base of the radio. Again, wiggling was a problem.

To remove the wiggle, I filled up the gap with either plumber's teflon tape or dental floss. For color variety, you may use thread from your sewing kit. Use enough tape, floss or thread to remove the wiggle. Secure the thread or floss with a knot so that they will not unravel.

T81 with Diamond antenna ; VX5 with a rubber duck from a swap meet

T81 with teflon tape filling the gap

VX5 with teflon tape filling the gap between the SMA-BNC adaptor and the base of the portable (red arrow). Gap between the rubber duck and the antenna (blue arrow).

EDDIE VALDEZ, DU1EV
TELEPHONE: +63.920.959.7359