TeleMetrum Antenna Issue

[rensr]

I was trying to fix the antenna to the plate but it broke how can i fix my new problem. Thanks.

 

[RocketDestroyer]

You could solder on an female SMA connector and try to solder bridge the end of the center pin to the output capacitor. You would need to buy a 433 MHz antenna instead of using the wire antenna. You might also consider trying to solder a thinner gauge wire to the output capacitor and then securing it with epoxy to the PCB. In either case you will need a temperature controller soldering iron and will need to be careful not to use to much heat or the capacitor will come off the board. There are likely other solutions but those are the first two that come to mind.

Edit: You might also drill a small hole where the pad used to be and pass the wire through the hole and carefully solder to the capacitor. Then epoxy the wire for added strength.

 

[dlb]

Adding an SMA connector is your best option, it adds strength. I have SMA connectors all of my Altus Metrum products.

 

[Speaknoevil]

Here is the upgrade part. Soldering it is easy. Highly recommend using it instead.
https://shop.gag.com/parts/sma-connector-pcb-edge.html

 

[Ibnu12]

Hi, It appers the board i'm using had it's attena snap off in a similar way and was then resoldered directly onto the board, it's now unable to be detected by my groundstation computers attend. The above post seem to imply there's some capacitor that could have also snapped off with it.

Is the naive desoldering directly back on the board likley to cause problems like that ?

 

[Voyager1]

Installing an edge mount SMA is the best bet. However, I would be using this type
https://au.element14.com/productimages/standard/en_GB/CN20647-40.jpgor
https://au.element14.com/productimages/standard/en_GB/CN20646-40.jpgdepending on the gender required.

 

[Ibnu12]

Installing an edge mount SMA is the best bet. However, I would be using this type
https://au.element14.com/productimages/standard/en_GB/CN20647-40.jpgor
https://au.element14.com/productimages/standard/en_GB/CN20646-40.jpgdepending on the gender required.

I'm sorry but I don't understand, how does installing an SMA help ?. is there. a guide on how to do it ?

 

[Voyager1]

The SMA connector will provide a rigid and convenient connection off the board to a monopole antenna.

The board below is not a TeleMetrum, but it shows the method of attachment to the board in the same way it would be used. The topside has a central coaxial conductor pin that would be soldered to the output filter inductor on the TeleMetrum where the original wire antenna was attached. The upper and lower ground prongs are soldered to the boards ground pads on both sides. The schematic is the output filter of the TeleMetrum.

 

[WillMarchant]

You can buy the SMA connector from Altus Metrum at https://shop.gag.com/parts/sma-connector-pcb-edge.html (as mentioned earlier) or use the links they provide to buy from another vendor.

You can get a nice 70cm SMA antenna from https://shop.bigredbee.com/products/70cm-sma-antenna or https://signalstuff.com/product/super-elastic-signal-stick-sma-male/ if you don't want to make your own.

 

[Dash8]

The same thing just happened to my Telemetrum. Once I get the SMA connector soldered in place, do I then solder the antenna to the center post? Or do I need to attach a coaxial cable antenna to the new connector?TIA.

 

[Voyager1]

The same thing just happened to my Telemetrum. Once I get the SMA connector soldered in place, do I then solder the antenna to the center post? Or do I need to attach a coaxial cable antenna to the new connector?TIA.

No, don’t solder the wire antenna to the board-mounted SMA. You could solder a wire antenna to a mating SMA connector, or just use a suitable SMA monopole antenna.

 

[Dash8]

No, don’t solder the wire antenna to the board-mounted SMA. You could solder a wire antenna to a mating SMA connector, or just use a suitable SMA monopole antenna.

Thanks for the advice. What would you recommend? A monopole antenna, or soldering the old wire antenna to a male counterpart? Are the monopole antennas longer?