IC2AT.3

ICOM IC-2AT INTERANL ANTENNA CONNECTION PROBLEM.

I ROUTINELY USE A HALF WAVE ANT. ON MY IC-2AT HANDHELD. WHEN COLLAPSED, THE
ANTENNA HAS THE SAME GAIN ( LOSS ) AS A RUBBER DUCK ANTENNA WHILE GIVING ME
GREATER RANGE WHEN FULLY EXTENDED.

THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT OF THE CENTER PIN OF THE BNC CONNECTOR
WITH THE HALF WAVE ANTENNA ON THE HANDHELD.

THIS MOVEMENT CAUSES FATIGUE FRACTURING OF THE WIRE CONNECTING THE PRINTED
CIRCUIT BOARD TO THE BNC CONNECTOR.

AFTER NUMEROUS FAILURES, I USED THE BRAID OF RG-174 COAX TO MAKE THE
CONNECTION.

FIRST REMOVE THE BNC FROM THE RADIO AND BRAKE OFF THE NON-USED GROUND LUG.
THE PIN OF THE BNC SHOULD BEPLACED INTO THE END OF THE BRAID.

A THIN PICE OF WIRE IS THEN WRAPPED AROUND THE BRAID 3-4 TIMES, AND THEN
SECURED, THEN SOLDERED. REINSTAL THE BNC AND DRESS THE BRAID TO THE SOLDER PAD
ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND SOLDER. DO NOT HEAT THE BRAID TO LOG
WHILE SOLDERING, AS SOLDER WILL BE DRAWN UP, MAKING IT STIFF AND SUBJECT IT TO
FATIGUE FRACTURING...