UHF transmit problem

Firstly, electrons and I are not on intimate terms, but ...........I had the very same issue with one of my UHF's a few years back - turned out I'd buggered up the antenna connection at some stage and cooked the radio's innards by trying to transmit without a proper 'radiating element' (antenna) available. There are warnings a plenty re this issue for the home installer - a costly lesson for me - the expert repair was not a lot cheaper than a new radio ($ ouch) - with luck, you might have another simpler, cheaper issue - fingers crossed.

Gronk,
bolt it into someone else's rig and try it. That will either eliminate the radio or condemn it.
I have had a cable that read fine on a multimeter but it was faulty. You will just have to eliminate one at a time.

I also have seen ground independent aerials that have failed due to moisture.

Have a good one,
RA.

Greg,
try another handpiece on yiour uhf set.
I had this problem with an old set years ago. could recieve ok but not get any range from transmission. must have been bodgey switch as new handset fixed problem.

cheers
Howard

Hi

ok did you fit the radio?

You are describing the normal result where the outer and inner aerial coax cable have touched and therefore a short. The most likely suspect will be the connection at the aerial end at the radio. I would suggest that you cut an inch or two from the radio end of the coax and attach the end again , remembering that the outer and inner coax should NEVER touch.

Cheers Teza

Hi Gronk,

All the above are worthy checks, and in addition to the comments by Tezza I would add, make sure you leave enough cable flex at the aerial base to allow for any aerial movement.

If using a spring base for the aerial you need a reasonable amount. We experienced exactly what you have described a couple of years ago, and the cause of the problem was insufficient flex at the aerial base causing a problem in the cable.

I was told then that it is a lot easier (less power required) for the aerial/radio to recieve than transmit a single hence the difference between recieving and sending.

As you can guess I am no radio expert, just passing on our experience.

Hope this helps.

Rob.

Gronk, or whatever your name is.

Unless you have an SWR meter you will not be able to test the antenna and cable properly. I am afraid it's time to take the car, with radio installed and antenna mounted, to a radio shop and talk to them. It could be anything from cooked finals, to a bad antenna to a broken or just crimped antenna cable. Lots of things. Even bending a good cable too sharply will screw up the signal.

Stop mucking around as you could make it worse. Take the car with radio to a doctor.

Phil