Midland porta pack antenna replacement alternative ?.

[The Collector]

Taken from a previous topic about these:


quote=lambrettadave post_id=515067 time=1553114348 user_id=11767]
Sorry for the late reply.....
The telescopic antenna is 150cm long plus the knuckle joint adds up with a length of 155cm.

Hope this helps.

[/quote]

[original45]

Cheers Dave super mate. Another question if I can the bottom of the original antennas they have a tilt swivel or knuckle what ever it's called. From what I can tell and need confirming is does the antenna screw into that knuckle ? And is it a 3/8 thread ?.then obviously a lower make threaded bolt on to bracket.
I think the base screw is m3 .
I ask as I think I just located a base joint but that looks to be 3/8 too thread female make m3 base to radio.
Wondering if it's worth buying a base joint alone to stick a 3/8 antenna into. Would allow it to be tilted or adjusted

[lambrettadave]

Unfortunately it is not a 3/8th thread but the other thread maybe a M3 .

One thing you could try is a pl right angle adapter and a plot 3/8th thread you might need 2 right angle adapters and a spacer pl

[original45]

Thanks for confirming this saved me a fiver.

[The Collector]

I think it's about 7 or 8mm-ish , maybe Volvo CB antenna size or thereabouts.
I've got my Portapak on the shelf, but I couldn't find the box and aerial etc the last time we talked about the aerials (a chap I know wanted to know the length as he'd bought one with a missing section or two). I try not to go rummaging in the piles of radio boxes in the loft, as if they were to fall on me, I'd be trapped forever!

[original45]

Lol Dave I can imagine.it's getting that way here but I am at least using a couple more now.
Well I'm going to give the 5' firestik a go in couple days.
It's too loaded so hopefully a good choice and the 2 version with adjustable tip.

Can I expect to have to check and adjust swr at all on these antennas.
Their adjusted for best swr on car but I'm guessing here only may need a tweek.
Never easy putting a meter online and likely not acuurate that way .
Anyone found they needed adjustment?

[The Collector]

Good luck with getting the swr meter between the modified Firestik and the Portapak, lol

Might be better off swr-ing it on a biscuit tin and then just shoving it on. Just watch you don't break the plastic aerial clip on the battery pack as it's designed for a slightly thinner diameter aerial and wont flex much without snapping.

You can file down the Firestik's 3/8" UNF thread and re-thread it with a cheap tap & die set using the right thread that the knuckle needs (I did something similar to a home-made radio socket adapter that I adapted and then posted about on here about 5yrs ago), but it's an awkward job.

[original45]

Lol too drastic.I will use a 90 angle then one of those pl259 male to pl259 male and then a so239 and a 3/8 body mount adapter.
Go off the so239 for a external antenna.
Yes agreed the little plastic antenna mount looks fragile.
I won't do that one.

[The Collector]

For anyone that needs one, here's a link to an adjustable angle joint / knuckle joint / ball joint thingymijig for the above radio on ebay:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CB-RADIO-ANT ... 635-2958-0

[original45]

Nice but still no full antennas about.grrrr

[The Collector]

I'll let you know via PM if I see any about.

If I see any really cheap as a B.I.N. item, I'll buy it and then get it sent straight to you if they'll allow it.

[original45]

Ta muchly appreciated.
Bought one of those joints too earlier.nice find. I thought I'd found one but wasn't no idea what it was off but got one now.

[lambrettadave]

Nice but still no full antennas about.grrrr

With the knuckle, the antenna from a maxcom7E would fit

[original45]

Ah cheers Dave another option. Kind of hoping I will locate a nice clean bend free retractable original type.
But we will see, got a 19" duck job that should work also a firestik To try.

I have to admit to once going through a box of radio junk at a boot sale and noting one in their and leaving it .I feel such a twit

[The Collector]

Now we've got your aerial sorted and on its way shortly, we need to see some pic's of you using it at some point whilst sat on Ben Nevis or something of note