Mikey Posted July 4, 2006 Share Posted July 4, 2006 Are those connections mcx or smc? I need to shorten my antenna for use on the bike and I need to know what replacement connectors to get (and how to do it :]) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beondwacko Posted July 4, 2006 Share Posted July 4, 2006 Don't shorten it. Just coil the excess, wire tie it and tuck it away. That's what I did on mine at least. You didn't clip it yet I hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceman_40 Posted July 4, 2006 Share Posted July 4, 2006 If you have to ask you don't want to cut it. It's some weird coax line that is a MAJOR pain in the ass. Coil up the wire it will save you hours of headaches and a new antenna. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey Posted July 5, 2006 Author Share Posted July 5, 2006 Yah, I suppose. I know you can get a short one from cyclegadgets.com but I wanted to make my own. I hate having all this coiled wire around. Any suggestions where to get a cheap antenna and perhaps a mounting base for a sportster replay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RXX Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 I cut mine, shortened it, and resoldered. Pain in the ass? Sure! Beer? Absolutely! Work? Yeppers.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey Posted July 5, 2006 Author Share Posted July 5, 2006 I cut mine, shortened it, and resoldered. Pain in the ass? Sure! Beer? Absolutely! Work? Yeppers.. So it's just an inner core and then white insulation then a wire sheath like a television cable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RXX Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 Yeah, pretty much like coax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBBXX Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 Mike, very few coax connectors are soldered anymore. Most of them are crimped, for which you need the tool. Soldered connections are a pain in the ass, especially if you've never done them before. If you don't do it quite right, you may lose more signal in the connection, than in that extra length of cable you have. It's not like a CB though, where the length of the AE cable does some of the impedance matching. My suggestion as well, is to leave it, or try and buy the length you need. marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beondwacko Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 Yah, I suppose. I know you can get a short one from cyclegadgets.com but I wanted to make my own. I hate having all this coiled wire around. Any suggestions where to get a cheap antenna and perhaps a mounting base for a sportster replay? From what I have seen with the various recievers I have owned, they all have the same antenea connector which is a bonus. I'd suggest either going to Radio shack ( they sell accessories ) or trying e-bay. I actually used a windshield suction cup mount on my bike but stuck it to the gas tank. It has held on just fine through a few wheelies and one run up to an indicated 157 mph. I ran the power and antenea wire under the gas tank and out from in front of it. I coiled the excess length around the mount itself. I too need another power cord because I keep stealing the one from my truck to use on the bike and I'm getting tired of having to unbolt the tanl and lift it up and then the reverse to put it all back in the truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew69442 Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 Yah, I suppose. I know you can get a short one from cyclegadgets.com but I wanted to make my own. I hate having all this coiled wire around. Any suggestions where to get a cheap antenna and perhaps a mounting base for a sportster replay? From what I have seen with the various recievers I have owned, they all have the same antenea connector which is a bonus. I'd suggest either going to Radio shack ( they sell accessories ) or trying e-bay. I actually used a windshield suction cup mount on my bike but stuck it to the gas tank. It has held on just fine through a few wheelies and one run up to an indicated 157 mph. I ran the power and antenea wire under the gas tank and out from in front of it. I coiled the excess length around the mount itself. I too need another power cord because I keep stealing the one from my truck to use on the bike and I'm getting tired of having to unbolt the tanl and lift it up and then the reverse to put it all back in the truck. The only difference on the satellite antennas are the old style two wire and the new style one wire. The housings for the antenna wire on the receiver end of course are all different depending on the manufacturer and there are currently twelve different varieties available. All the pin connectors are crimped not soldered and Amphenol RF has a selection of all of these “FAKRA” SMB style connectors try this Linky. Lew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey Posted July 6, 2006 Author Share Posted July 6, 2006 I went to the website, but didn't know what I was looking for specifically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew69442 Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 I went to the website, but didn't know what I was looking for specifically. Mike, here is the specific page from the Digi Key site.Page 285 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey Posted July 6, 2006 Author Share Posted July 6, 2006 Looks like those are all hard mounts not something like a 90 angle attachment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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